Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-11-06

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The graph below shows average carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions per person in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal between 1967 and 2007.

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

Student answer (Band 4.0)

The given graph illustrates average carbon dioxide emissions per person in the United Kingdom, Swedon, Italy, and Portugal from 1967 to 2007.

Overall, United Kingdom was very dramatic declined in average carbon dioxides emmision per person.While, Portugal and Italy was rapadily increased over the period and then remain constant. Swedon also followed the downward trend.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

You identify the subject, countries and time span, and your overview recognises that emissions fell in the UK and Sweden while rising in Italy and Portugal. However, the response is far too brief to summarise the graph adequately, and it gives no supporting figures or specific comparisons. It also misrepresents the ending: Italy levels off at about 7.6 tonnes, but Portugal continues rising to around 5.4 tonnes; the two countries do not both remain constant. The UK’s decline is gradual rather than “very dramatic.” To make the report complete, describe the main changes with selected data, compare the countries’ starting and ending positions, and distinguish Italy’s plateau from Portugal’s continued increase.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic, recognisable order: an opening sentence identifies the graph, followed by an overview of the trends. This gives the reader a simple progression, and “Overall” signals the shift to the main features. However, the response ends before developing or organising any detailed comparisons, so the information is not grouped into fuller stages or country comparisons. The connector “While” is also used as a sentence opener without a complete main clause, which interrupts the flow. Build a clear report with an introduction, an overview, and one or two body paragraphs, using links such as “By contrast” or “Meanwhile” to connect accurate comparisons.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “average carbon dioxide emissions per person,” “downward trend” and “over the period,” so the subject is generally clear. However, spelling and word-choice errors are conspicuous, including “Swedon,” “emmision” and “rapadily,” and the phrase “carbon dioxides” is not the natural form here. Some wording is also imprecise: “very dramatic declined” does not clearly describe the UK’s gradual fall, while “remain constant” incorrectly groups Portugal with Italy. Use accurate forms such as “emissions,” “declined gradually” and “rose steadily,” and choose trend language that matches each line. A wider range of precise verbs would also help you report changes without repeating general terms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts both a longer introductory sentence and an overview, but grammatical control is inconsistent. In “United Kingdom was very dramatic declined,” the verb pattern is faulty; a correct form would be “emissions in the United Kingdom declined gradually.” The sentence beginning “While, Portugal and Italy was…” is incomplete and has subject–verb disagreement, since the plural subject requires “were” or a different construction. “Swedon also followed the downward trend” is a complete simple sentence, showing that basic meaning can be conveyed. To improve, practise forming complete clauses, matching verbs to singular and plural subjects, and using adverbs with verbs rather than adjectives. Vary sentence structures only after these basic patterns are secure.

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