Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Predictions Nov 2026 · 2026-11-07

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The bar chart below shows how much carbon dioxide was released by oil, gas and coal in the fictional country of Norland from 2000 to 2020.

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

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The bar chart illustrates that amount of carbon dioxide was produced by oil, gas and coal in the fictional country of Norland from 2000 to 2020.

Overall, it is noticeable that the carbon dioxide released by coal and gas was drastically increasing. However, CO2 produced by oil fluctuated throughout the period.

Looking at the data in more detail, in 2000, carbon emission by coal was about 190 million tonnes of CO2, whereas in 2020 it saw substantial rise which was approximately around 280 million tonnes of CO2.

In comparison, carbon emission by oil in 2000 was around 230 million tonnes of CO2 it kept on rising by 2010 but show fluctuations from 2015

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the chart’s subject and period, and your overview correctly notes that coal and gas rose while oil fluctuated. The figures for coal in 2000 and 2020 are also accurate. However, the response addresses the task only partially: it gives little detail about gas, omits the important comparison that coal overtook oil by 2015, and ends before completing the oil trend. The oil figure for 2000 is given as about 230, rather than approximately 220. The response is also 52 words below the required minimum, which leaves the main features insufficiently reported. To improve, complete the comparison across all three fuels and include key intermediate values or clear trend descriptions.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and a detail paragraph. Phrases such as “Overall” and “In comparison” help signal the purpose of each section. However, progression is limited because the detail paragraph covers coal and then begins discussing oil without completing the comparison, while gas receives no supporting detail. The final sentence is unfinished, so the reader is left without a complete account or conclusion. Some linking is also mechanical, and the relationship between the oil figures would be clearer if the time sequence were explicitly connected. Organise the body by fuel or by major trend, and ensure each paragraph develops a complete set of comparisons.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a suitable range of chart-related vocabulary, including “illustrates,” “fluctuated,” “substantial rise,” and “in comparison.” These choices show some flexibility and are generally understandable. There are, however, several imprecise or awkward expressions: “amount of carbon dioxide was produced” would be more natural as “the amount of carbon dioxide emitted,” and “drastically increasing” is not the best fit for a steady upward trend. “Saw substantial rise” also needs a more natural collocation. Repetition of “carbon emission” limits variety, and “CO2” could be written consistently as “carbon dioxide.” Aim for precise trend language and natural collocations while retaining the useful range already attempted.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a contrast with “whereas” and a sentence beginning “However.” Meaning is usually recoverable, but some errors affect accuracy and sentence control. In “in 2000 was around 230 million tonnes of CO2 it kept on rising,” two independent clauses are joined without suitable punctuation or a conjunction. “It kept on rising by 2010 but show fluctuations” also shifts tense and has incorrect verb agreement; use “showed.” The opening needs an article (“the amount”), and “in 2020 it saw substantial rise” lacks an article before “substantial rise.” Check sentence boundaries, articles, and consistent past-tense verbs when describing the chart.

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

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