Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-28

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 line graph illustrates that average carbon dioxide emissions per person in the four countries between 1967 and 2007.

Overall,the United Kingdom average carbon dioxide emissions one individual decreased in first year. However,the Sweden average highly grow in first year and approximately decline in last year. So,the portugal in first year average per individual increased and highly grow in last year.

First of all,the United Kingdom in average carbon per human 11% in 1967 and 9% in 2007. So,this figure highly decreased. Second of all,the Sweden average in metric tones per individual 9% in 1967 and 5.5% in 2007. So,this figure approximatley highly decline.

Second of all,the Italy carbon dioxide average 4% in 1967 and 7% in 2007.This figure highly raise. The last country Portugal average 1% in first year and5% in 2007. So,this figure highly grow.

In conclusion,the United Kingdom highly decreased in five years. And the Sweden average usually same condition in the United Kingdom. However,the Italy and Portugal highly increased in five years.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

The student attempts to address the task by reporting data from the line graph regarding carbon dioxide emissions in four countries. However, the response suffers from serious limitations in data accuracy and interpretation. For instance, the opening sentence is grammatically incomplete ('The line graph illustrates that...'), and the data cited is frequently inaccurate (e.g., stating the UK was '11% in 1967' instead of 10.8 metric tonnes, and treating the metric tonnes as percentages). Although an overview is attempted in the conclusion, the selection of main features is disjointed and confused. The response meets the minimum length requirement, but the severe factual and comparative inaccuracies prevent it from achieving a higher band score under the Task Achievement descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, attempting an introduction, body paragraphs for individual countries, and a conclusion. However, the progression of ideas lacks logical flow and coherence. Cohesive devices are used awkwardly or repetitively (e.g., 'First of all', 'Second of all', 'Second of all' repeated). Paragraphing is attempted, but the grouping of information is confusing, mixing comparisons and trends haphazardly. Referencing is frequently unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the intended comparisons between the countries over the forty-year period. Overall cohesion is faulty and mechanical, placing this response firmly in the lower-middle bands.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.0

The student uses a very basic and repetitive vocabulary, struggling to find appropriate terms for describing graphical data. Words are frequently misused, such as employing 'percentage (%)' signs or units instead of 'metric tonnes', and confusing verbs like 'grow', 'raise', and 'decline'. Collocations are unnatural ('average carbon per human', 'highly grow'). There are noticeable lexical errors that cause confusion and strain the reader, reflecting a limited range that is barely adequate for describing simple trends.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.0

The grammatical range is extremely limited, consisting mostly of simple and heavily flawed sentence structures. There are major structural errors throughout the text, such as sentence fragments ('The line graph illustrates that average carbon dioxide emissions per person in the four countries between 1967 and 2007.') and missing main verbs. Punctuation errors, such as missing spaces after commas ('Overall,the', 'However,the'), are frequent. Errors in tense and preposition usage are pervasive and frequently impede communication, resulting in a low grammatical score.

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