Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-15

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 graph shows the average carbon dioxide emissions per person in the different countries between 1967 and 2007.

first of all, co2 emissions per person in 1967, there are 1 metric tones in Portugal. In 1977, there are 4 co2 emissions metric tones in Italy. In 1987, there are 11 carbon dioxide emissions metrics tones in Swede. also, In 2007, there are 11 co2 emissions metric tones in United kingdom.

secondly, lowest carbon dioxide emissions metric tones in the Portugal and also 4 metric tones in Italy. the highest emissions metric tones in United Kingdom. Sweden is also leading for 9 co2 emissions metric tones. In United Kingdom major way of increasing the emissions per person and also down in 2007. In Sweden increasing the emissions in 1977 for 10 metric tones. moreover, In Italy increasing the emission metric tones in 1977 for 7 per person. It is a very big problems.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response attempts to address the task but fails to provide a clear overview or a logical summary of the main trends. The data selection is fragmented and inaccurate; for example, stating that Sweden had 11 metric tonnes in 1987 is not supported by the provided graph. The report lacks a coherent structure to compare the four countries effectively. Instead of identifying key features like the overall decline in the UK and Sweden or the steady rise in Portugal, the response lists isolated, often incorrect, data points. This results in a failure to adequately cover the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0

The response lacks a logical progression of ideas. While there are attempts at paragraphing and basic linking words like 'first of all' and 'secondly', these are used mechanically and do not help the reader follow the information. The sentences are disjointed, and the lack of clear referencing makes it difficult to understand which data point relates to which country or year. The overall arrangement is confusing, and the information is presented as a list of disconnected facts rather than a cohesive summary of the graph's trends.

Lexical Resource — Band 4.0

The vocabulary is very limited and repetitive. The student relies heavily on the phrase 'metric tones' and 'co2 emissions' throughout the text, which indicates a lack of variety. There are significant errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'Sweden is also leading for 9 co2 emissions' and 'major way of increasing the emissions'. The spelling of 'Swede' instead of 'Sweden' and the misuse of 'metrics tones' further demonstrate a restricted range that struggles to convey precise information about the data.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0

The grammatical range is extremely limited, consisting mostly of simple, error-prone sentences. There are frequent errors in basic sentence structure, such as 'In 1967, there are 1 metric tones in Portugal', where the tense is incorrect for describing historical data. Subject-verb agreement and preposition usage are consistently problematic. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with irregular capitalization throughout the text. These frequent errors often impede the reader's ability to interpret the data accurately, as the meaning is frequently obscured by the poor grammatical control.

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