Cambridge 12 Writing Task 1 Test 2 - Sample Answers (Band 9 to 4-5)

Real band 9, 8, 7 and 6.5 sample answers for this prompt, plus a genuine band 4-5 answer so you can see exactly what pulls a score down. Every sample comes with examiner-style notes on Task Achievement, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range & Accuracy.

The Prompt

Overseas Students in the UK

The table below shows the number of students from overseas studying in the UK in 2004, 2007, and 2010.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

The Data

Number of overseas students studying in the UK (thousands)

China: 47 (2004) → 67 (2007) → 90 (2010)

India: 22 (2004) → 30 (2007) → 39 (2010)

Nigeria: 10 (2004) → 14 (2007) → 17 (2010)

USA: 15 (2004) → 16 (2007) → 17 (2010)

Pakistan: 11 (2004) → 14 (2007) → 16 (2010)

Other: 110 (2004) → 130 (2007) → 150 (2010)

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Band 9

170 words

Correctly distinguishes China's fastest individual growth from "Other" remaining the largest category overall, rather than conflating the two.

The table compares the number of overseas students from five countries and regions studying in the UK in 2004, 2007 and 2010.

Overall, the number of overseas students rose in every category over the six-year period, with China showing by far the fastest growth and becoming, by a wide margin, the largest single source of students by 2010.

China's numbers nearly doubled, rising from 47,000 students in 2004 to 90,000 in 2010, overtaking every other individual country by a considerable margin. India followed a similar upward trajectory, though at a slower pace, growing from 22,000 to 39,000 over the same period.

Nigeria, the USA and Pakistan all grew more modestly, with the USA showing the smallest increase of the three, from 15,000 to just 17,000, essentially flat compared with China's dramatic rise. Students from all other, unlisted countries combined still made up the largest overall category throughout the period, growing from 110,000 to 150,000, a reminder that no single country dominated the wider overseas student population despite China's individual surge.

Examiner Notes

Task Achievement: Covers all six categories with a precise overview identifying China's disproportionate growth as the standout feature, while correctly noting that "Other" remained the largest category throughout, a genuinely nuanced point.

Coherence & Cohesion: A clear overview precedes detail organised by growth rate, with cohesive devices ("however", "a reminder that") linking categories naturally.

Lexical Resource: Precise, varied language ("by a wide margin", "essentially flat", "a dramatic rise") used accurately throughout.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Wide range of accurate structures, including comparatives and passive forms, used with full control.

Band 8

168 words

Accurate and clearly organised, just slightly less integrated in tying its closing point back to the overview.

The table shows the number of overseas students from five countries, plus a general "other" category, studying in the UK in 2004, 2007 and 2010.

Overall, the number of students from every country increased over the period, with China showing the biggest increase by far and becoming the largest individual source country by 2010.

China grew from 47,000 students in 2004 to 90,000 in 2010, nearly doubling and overtaking every other country listed. India also grew significantly, from 22,000 to 39,000, though not as dramatically as China.

Nigeria and Pakistan had similar, more modest increases, both rising by around 6,000 students over the period. The USA had the smallest increase of the five countries, growing only from 15,000 to 17,000. The "other" category remained the largest throughout, growing from 110,000 to 150,000 students. Taken as a whole, these figures show that while China's growth was the most dramatic single change, the overall number of overseas students in the UK continued to rise steadily across almost every source country.

Examiner Notes

Task Achievement: Covers all six categories accurately with a clear overview, though the closing point about "other" remaining the largest is stated rather than explicitly connected back to the overview's main claim about China.

Coherence & Cohesion: Clearly organised with an overview followed by grouped detail; cohesive devices are accurate throughout.

Lexical Resource: Good range of vocabulary for comparison, though "the biggest increase by far" is slightly less varied than the higher-band answer's range of comparative phrases.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Accurate throughout, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures.

Band 7

170 words

All figures are correct, but the overview only captures half of the most useful comparison in the data.

The table gives information about the number of overseas students from different countries studying in the UK in 2004, 2007 and 2010.

Overall, the number of students went up in all categories during this period, and China had the biggest increase of all the countries shown.

China went from 47,000 in 2004 to 90,000 in 2010, which was almost double. India also went up a lot, from 22,000 to 39,000, but not as much as China.

Nigeria and Pakistan had smaller increases, going up by about 6,000 or 7,000 students each. The USA had the smallest increase, from 15,000 to just 17,000. The "other" category was the biggest number throughout, going from 110,000 to 150,000. Overall, these numbers show that the total amount of overseas students studying in the UK kept growing every year, and China became by far the most important single source of new students by the end of the period. This pattern was echoed, to varying degrees, by most of the other countries listed in the table.

Examiner Notes

Task Achievement: Reports all six categories accurately with a basic overview, but the overview only states China's growth without also flagging that "other" stayed the largest category, which is the second half of the key comparison.

Coherence & Cohesion: Clearly organised by country, though "went up" is repeated many times throughout.

Lexical Resource: Adequate range for the task; figures are accurate but connecting language stays fairly plain throughout.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Generally accurate, mostly simple sentence structures; meaning is always clear.

Band 6.5

155 words

The figures are all correct, but agreement errors appear in almost every sentence.

The table give information about number of overseas student from different country studying in UK in 2004, 2007 and 2010.

Overall, number of student go up in all category during this period, and China have biggest increase of all the country show.

China go from 47,000 in 2004 to 90,000 in 2010, which is almost double. India also go up a lot, from 22,000 to 39,000, but not as much as China.

Nigeria and Pakistan have smaller increase, go up by about 6,000 or 7,000 student each. USA have smallest increase, from 15,000 to just 17,000. Other category was biggest number throughout, go from 110,000 to 150,000. Overall, these number show that total amount of overseas student studying in UK keep growing every year, and China become by far most important single source of new student by end of period. This pattern was see, to some degree, in most of other country list in table.

Examiner Notes

Task Achievement: Reports all six categories accurately with a basic overview, matching the content of the band 7 answer.

Coherence & Cohesion: Clearly organised by country, following the same structure as the higher-band answers.

Lexical Resource: Limited by "student" and "country" being used without their plural forms throughout.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Frequent subject-verb agreement errors ("table give", "number of student go up", "China have biggest increase", "USA have smallest increase") appear in nearly every sentence.

Band 4-5 - What to Avoid

49 words

One whole category is missing entirely, and it closes with a speculative aside instead of reporting the data.

This table show student number from country. China have most student, it go up every year.

India also go up. Other country like Nigeria and USA go up small amount.

I think China student like UK university very much, this is why number go up so much every year.

Examiner Notes

Task Achievement: Pakistan is not mentioned at all, exact figures are missing for most categories, and the closing comment speculates about why Chinese students like UK universities, which is outside the scope of a data report. At well under 150 words, the response is also underlength.

Coherence & Cohesion: Reads as three short, disconnected remarks rather than an organised comparison across all six categories.

Lexical Resource: Vague, repetitive vocabulary ("go up", "small amount") used instead of the specific figures given in the table.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Frequent errors throughout ("table show", "China have most student", "India also go up").

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These sample answers are written independently for Prep IELTS Now to illustrate real band-score differences. They are a study aid, not official Cambridge or IELTS material.