Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-12
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 provided charts illustrate the ratio of British learners in particular university in England who were able to speak foreign languages in addition to English in 2000 and 2010.
Overall, it is evident that percentage of students who spoke no other language, another language and two other language increased while ratio of students who were ablen to speak spanish and french decreased whereas, proportion of german language remained unchanged.
Looking at the details for 2000, no other language contained highest percentage with 30% while, spanish represented 20%. The figure of french and another language remained same about 15%. Finally, the ratio of two another language and german only indicated same percentage 10%.
Moving on the 2010, no other language was the largest category accounted for 35% while, another language intrduced 20%. Interestingly, two another language represented 15% whereas, the figure of spanish, french and german only remained same about 10%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The student successfully covers all parts of the prompt by selecting and reporting the main features of the charts comparing the proportions of British students speaking other languages in 2000 and 2010. Key trends are identified, such as the increase in students speaking no other language, another language, and two other languages, alongside the decrease in Spanish and French speakers. However, comparisons are somewhat basic and repetitive in structure, and the reporting of specific figures contains minor inaccuracies when checked against typical visual representations. The response provides an overview, but the lack of fully developed comparative analysis keeps it at a Band 6.0 level.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is arranged logically with an introduction, an overview paragraph, and separate details for 2000 and 2010, giving it a coherent overall structure. Cohesive devices are used to signal transitions, such as 'Overall', 'Looking at the details for 2000', and 'Moving on the 2010'. However, some cohesive phrasing is awkward or grammatically faulty, such as 'Moving on the 2010' instead of 'Moving on to 2010'. Furthermore, referencing and paragraphing could be smoother to achieve a higher band score, placing this response firmly at Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range for the task, successfully using terms such as 'proportion', 'ratio', 'category', and 'unchanged'. However, there are notable lexical errors and awkward collocations throughout the text, including 'ratio of British learners in particular university' (missing article), 'two another language' (incorrect pluralisation/determiner usage), and 'intrduced' (spelling error for introduced). While these vocabulary limitations and slips do not severely impede communication, they restrict the lexical score to a Band 5.5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some attempt at variety with subordinate clauses introduced by 'while' and 'whereas'. However, grammatical accuracy is inconsistent. There are frequent missing articles ('percentage of students', 'in particular university'), preposition errors ('Moving on the 2010'), and faulty modifications ('students who were ablen to speak'). While these errors rarely completely obscure the writer's meaning, they occur frequently enough across the text to prevent the response from achieving a Band 6.0, resulting in a Band 5.5.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.