Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-17

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 5.0)

The line graph depicts the information about the average carbon dioxide emission each person in the given four countries from 1967 to 2007.

Overall, the highest carbon dioxide released in United Kingdom, whille the lowest carbon dioxide produced in Portugal during the given time period.

In detail, about 1.5 tonness carbon dioxide produced per person in Portugal in 1967. After 2 decades, it increased sharply and reached at 3.5 tonnes. In 2007, amount of carbon dioxide stood at 5.5 tonnes. However, approximately 4 tonness carbon dioxide generated in 1967 in Italy. In 1987, it slightly went up and touched it 8 tonnes in 2007.

In case of Sweden, Carbon dioxide stood at 8.4 tonnes in first year. Afterthat, 1987 to 2007, it declined and reached at 5 tonnes. United Kingdom, 11 tonnes carbon dioxide discharged in intial year. After 10 years, it decreased and end of the 2007 it reached 7 toness.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The student covers all four countries and provides an overview, identifying the highest and lowest emitting countries correctly. However, there are several inaccurate data points reported in the body paragraphs. For instance, the student states that Portugal started at 1.5 tonnes in 1967 and reached 3.5 tonnes after two decades, whereas the chart shows roughly 1.2 and 3.3 tonnes. More significantly, the student claims Italy reached 8 tonnes in 2007 (it was actually 7.6 tonnes) and states that the UK ended 2007 at 7 tonnes, whereas the actual figure is 8.7 tonnes. These inaccuracies indicate a misreading of the graph, pulling the score down to Band 5.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response has a discernible structure, featuring a brief introduction, an overview sentence, and separate body paragraphs for individual countries. However, the logical progression is weak and the use of cohesive devices is frequently awkward or inadequate. Phrases like 'In detail,' and 'In case of Sweden,' are somewhat unnatural. Furthermore, paragraphing is underdeveloped, and referencing between sentences can be abrupt. While the overall arrangement is coherent enough to follow the general intent, the mechanical and faulty cohesion places this response firmly at Band 5.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is generally repetitive and limited to basic terms associated with data description, such as 'increased sharply', 'went up', and 'declined'. There are multiple spelling and lexical errors throughout the text, including 'whille', 'tonness', 'intial', and 'Afterthat'. Furthermore, phrasing such as 'carbon dioxide released in United Kingdom' misses necessary articles. The range is sufficient to convey a basic message, but the frequent inaccuracies in word choice and spelling restrict the lexical score to Band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control over grammar is weak. There are frequent missing articles ('in United Kingdom', 'in first year') and prepositions, as well as omission of main verbs (e.g., 'the highest carbon dioxide released in United Kingdom' and 'Carbon dioxide stood at 8.4 tonnes in first year'). Sentence boundaries and awkward phrasing, such as 'and end of the 2007 it reached 7 toness', lead to frequent errors that occasionally cause difficulty for the reader. These issues align with Band 5.0 descriptors.

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

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