Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-30
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 illustration demonstrates the number of carbon dioxide release by each individual in the UK, Sweden. Italy and Portugal from 1967 to 2007. The percentage of all the countries have been fluctuating in these years. To begin with the United Kingdom, the release of CO2 has been stable in 1967 to 1977 but has fallen with 2% in 1987, 3% in 1997 and followed by 7% in 2007.
Secondly, Sweden was at under 12 during 1967 to 1977 and had a drop above 10% in 1987, 1997 and 2007. Furthermore, Italy rose among 1967 to 1977 by 2% following 3% and 4% in 1987 and 1997 and finally being stable at it. Lastly, Portugal had the lowest growth starting 2% and 4% in two years .Afterwards it climbed with 6% and 9% in 1987 and 1997. It remained consistent in 2007. It was visible that the proportion was varying by the span of years in terms of discharge of the greenhouse air
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
The response attempts to cover all four countries shown in the graph, fulfilling the basic requirement of reporting main trends. However, the student struggles significantly with the data itself, misinterpreting the numbers and incorrectly framing the figures as percentages (e.g., 'fallen with 2%', 'drop above 10%'). The visual data shows metric tonnes of CO2 emissions, not percentages. Furthermore, some reported values are inaccurate; for instance, Sweden's emissions were around 8.6 in 1967 and peaked near 10.3, but the student states it was 'at under 12'. The overview provided at the end ('the proportion was varying') is extremely vague. While the main features are touched upon, the factual inaccuracies and confusion regarding units limit the effectiveness of the task fulfillment, placing it in Band 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The text is divided into paragraphs, which provides a basic structural framework, but the logical progression and overall flow are weak. Transitions like 'To begin with', 'Secondly', and 'Lastly' are used mechanically to separate countries rather than to guide the reader through a cohesive analytical comparison. The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the concluding sentence feels tacked on rather than serving as a natural summary of the trends. Cohesive devices are used awkwardly or inaccurately, which disrupts the logical arrangement of ideas. Overall, the organizational structure displays features of Band 5.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is generally repetitive and basic, relying heavily on simple verbs like 'rose', 'dropped', 'climb', and 'stable'. The student repeatedly misuses mathematical terms and units, describing metric tonnes as 'percentages' or talking about emissions falling 'with 2%' instead of by 2 tonnes or units. There are also awkward collocations and lexical errors, such as 'carbon dioxide release' instead of 'emissions' and 'greenhouse air' instead of 'greenhouse gases'. While the vocabulary is just about adequate to convey the basic topic, the persistent inaccuracies and lack of flexibility 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 grammatical errors, such as 'the number of carbon dioxide release' (plural/singular and word form agreement), 'in 1967 to 1977' (should be 'from 1967 to 1977'), and prepositions used incorrectly ('rose among 1967 to 1977'). Punctuation also needs attention, notably the stray period in 'Sweden. Italy'. Although some sentences are comprehensible, the frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction causes difficulty for the reader and prevents the response from reaching a higher band, aligning it with Band 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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