Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-11-10

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 provided line graph illustrates the everage emission of carbon dioxide per individual in different Countries between 1967 and 2007.

Overall, it can be seen that United kingdom accounted the highest percentage of Carbon dioxide emission in both given years, while Portugal remained lowest ratio and

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The opening identifies the visual as a line graph and correctly recognises the UK as having the highest emissions and Portugal as the lowest at the beginning. However, the overview is unfinished (“while Portugal remained lowest ratio and”), and “in both given years” does not accurately describe the full period: by 2007, Italy and Sweden were both around 5.4 tonnes, below the UK. No changes or comparisons across the four decades are reported, so the main features are largely missing. The response also falls well short of the required 150 words. To improve, complete a clear overview and report key trends, such as the UK’s gradual decline, Sweden’s rise and subsequent fall, and the increases in Italy and Portugal.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: an introductory sentence is followed by an overview beginning with “Overall”. This gives the reader a recognisable starting structure. However, the overview stops mid-sentence at “and”, leaving the central idea incomplete and preventing a logical progression. There are no body paragraphs or supporting details, and the single transition does not connect a developed set of comparisons. Plan the response in three parts: paraphrase the graph, summarise the main trends, then group and compare the country figures in one or two body paragraphs. Complete each sentence and use clear links such as “whereas” or “by contrast” to show relationships.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response uses some relevant task vocabulary, including “line graph”, “emission”, “carbon dioxide” and “per individual”, so the topic is identifiable. However, the range is very limited because the response contains almost no description of change or comparison. There are also noticeable spelling and word-choice problems: “everage” should be “average”, “Countries” should not be capitalised mid-sentence, and “lowest ratio” is not a natural way to describe the figures. Prefer precise terms such as “lowest level” or “lowest emissions”. To develop this criterion, use a wider set of accurate trend expressions, for example “declined gradually”, “rose sharply”, “peaked at” and “remained stable”, alongside units such as “tonnes per person”.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response shows an attempt at a complex overview structure with “Overall, it can be seen that… while…”, and the first sentence is broadly understandable. However, the range is narrow, with only two sentences and little evidence of varied sentence forms. The second sentence is incomplete, ending with “and”, and the phrase “United kingdom accounted the highest percentage” lacks the preposition required after “accounted” and uses an unclear grammatical construction. “Portugal remained lowest ratio” also omits an article and a suitable noun phrase. Practise complete comparative sentences, such as “The UK recorded the highest emissions, whereas Portugal had the lowest,” and check articles, prepositions and sentence endings.

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

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