Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-07
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The charts below show the proportions of British students at one university in England who were able to speak other languages in addition to English, in 2000 and 2010
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
The given chart shows the propotions of British students in university of England were able to speak other language i addition to English, in 2000 and 2010.
As we see in 2000, 30% British student just able to speak English. They do not know another language. In university of England, 20% students only know how to speak Spanish. On the otherhand, 15% students of university know only French. Now we see that, 15% students of university know another language. 10% students of university know only German language. At least, 10% students know two other languages.
In 2010, 35% students of university know another language which is higher than the percentage in 2000. 20% students of university only another language. We see that, 15% students of university know two other language. 10% students know only French. On the otherhand, 10% students know only Spanish. 10% students of university know only German language.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the charts, but the presentation is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview. While you successfully identify the proportions for 2000 and 2010, the comparison between the two years is underdeveloped. For instance, you mention that 35% in 2010 is higher than in 2000, but you do not synthesize the data to highlight the most significant trends, such as the shift in language proficiency. The report would benefit from a more analytical approach that groups data points rather than simply listing them sequentially.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the flow between sentences is repetitive. You rely heavily on simple sentence structures and basic transitions like 'In 2000' and 'In 2010'. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link ideas smoothly; for example, the transition between the description of Spanish and French speakers is abrupt. The use of referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when describing the categories of language speakers, which makes the progression of information feel mechanical rather than logical.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. You frequently use the phrase 'students of university know' and 'only', which restricts the range of your writing. There are also errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'At least, 10% students know two other languages' (which should likely be 'At least 10% of students...') and 'only another language', which is grammatically incomplete and confusing. To improve, you should aim to use a wider variety of verbs and nouns to describe data, such as 'account for', 'represent', or 'fluency'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are consistent issues with articles (e.g., 'in university of England' instead of 'at a university in England') and subject-verb agreement. The sentence structures are predominantly simple, with very few attempts at complex sentences. Punctuation is also inconsistent, and there are missing prepositions throughout the text. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of basic errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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