Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-06

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 6.0)

The pie charts illustrate the percentage of British students who were able to speak other languages in addition to English at one university in England, in 2000 and 2010.

Overall, it indicates that the percentage of British students who were able to speak another language and two other languages increased from 2000 to 2010, while the proportion for Spanish, French and no other language decreased over the same period. However, the percentage of German language remained same over the period.

In 2000, only 20% British students were able to speak Spanish and 15% accounted for French language. The percentage represented for no other language was 30%, 10% for two another languages and 15% for another language.

Regarding 2010, the proportion of Spanish declined to 10% and similarly 10% for French language. The proportion of British students who spoke no other languages surged to 30%. The increased in percentage observed for two other languages at about 15% and 20% for another language. In addition, the proportion of students who spoke German language was 10% over the same period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features and making comparisons between the two years, achieving a clear overall picture. However, some parts are more fully developed than others, leading to minor inaccuracies in the interpretation of trends. For instance, the overview incorrectly states that the percentage for 'another language' and 'two other languages' increased overall, whereas only certain specific categories showed distinct rises or falls. Similarly, in the final body paragraph, the student notes that 'the proportion of British students who spoke no other languages surged to 30%', but the data actually shows an increase from 30% in 2000 to 35% in 2010. While a clear overview is provided, some of the supporting details are under-developed or imprecise. To reach a higher band, all data points should be reported with absolute accuracy and all trends should be rigorously verified against the source chart.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with a clear logical progression from an introductory statement, through an overview paragraph, to separate body paragraphs for the years 2000 and 2010. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different temporal focuses. Cohesive devices are employed to link ideas, such as 'Overall,' 'In 2000,' and 'Regarding 2010.' However, referencing and cohesion can occasionally feel mechanical or slightly faulty, as seen in the phrasing 'similarly 10% for French language' and the slightly disconnected clause 'The increased in percentage observed for two other languages at about 15%.' To achieve a higher band, the student should ensure that all cohesive links flow naturally and that referencing between sentences is entirely seamless and precise throughout.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully conveying basic statistical concepts and categories such as 'percentage,' 'proportion,' 'declined,' and 'surged.' There are several attempts to use less common vocabulary, but these are accompanied by lexical inaccuracies and word-form errors, such as 'The increased in percentage' instead of 'The increase in percentage,' and 'the percentage of German language remained same' instead of 'stayed the same.' Spelling is generally accurate, but word choice and collocation require greater precision. To move to a higher band, the student needs to expand their range of vocabulary and exercise greater control over word forms and collocations to avoid unnatural expressions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating attempts at subordinate clauses and comparative structures. There are some errors in grammar and punctuation, but they rarely impede communication. Examples of grammatical slips include 'only 20% British students' (missing the preposition or article pattern, e.g., 'only 20% of British students') and awkward phrasing in '15% accounted for French language.' Verb tenses are generally handled well when referring to past years. To reach the next band, the student should increase the proportion of error-free complex sentences and ensure better control over prepositions and noun phrase structures.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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