Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-09

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 demonstrates the average carbon dioxide CO2 emissions per person in the four countries like, United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal during the given period from 1967 to 2007.

From an overall perspective, it can be observed from the chart, that Sweden had highest emission of carbon dioxide C02 per person while, United Kingdom had lowest emission of carbon dioxide per head. Furthermore, Italy or Portugal increased with the passage of time.

Looking at the picture, it is crystal clear from the picture, that UK had 11 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide CO2 emissions each person in 1967 on the other hand, which dramatically declined at level 9 tonnes in 2007. Moreover, Sweden had average carbon dioxide C02 which emitted in every individual from 9.5 tonnes in the starting period and sharply decline and stayed at 5 tonnes in 1997 approximately.

Moving towards an other category, in Italy every human emitted 4 tonnes in 1967 which showed decline level but in the end of the year sudden increased and reached at 8 tonnes while, Portugal had least of carbon dioxide emission per person in 1967 but slightly improved and stayed at 6 metric tonnes in 1997 approximately.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

The response identifies the four countries and the period, and it attempts an overview, but the main trends are substantially misreported. The overview says Sweden had the highest emissions and the UK the lowest; in fact, the UK was highest throughout, while Portugal began lowest. The UK’s decline and Italy’s rise are noted, but the account misses that Sweden peaked in 1977 before falling, and that Portugal rose steadily to about 5.4 tonnes by 2007. Several figures and dates are inaccurate: Sweden started at about 8.6, not 9.5, and its 5-tonne level was reached in 2007, not 1997; Portugal’s 6-tonne figure is also assigned to 1997 rather than 2007. Select the key comparisons and check each figure against the graph.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable introduction, overview and two detail paragraphs, so the reader can follow its broad structure. It also uses basic sequencing phrases such as “Looking at the picture” and “Moving towards another category.” However, progression is weakened by repeated, vague framing (“from the chart,” “from the picture”) and by comparisons that are difficult to interpret, especially “Italy or Portugal increased with the passage of time.” Some linking phrases are used mechanically, and long sentences join several claims without clear boundaries. Organise the details by meaningful trends—for example, the UK and Sweden’s declines, then Italy and Portugal’s rises—and use concise links that clarify the comparison.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses enough topic vocabulary to communicate the general subject, including “emissions,” “metric tonnes,” “declined,” and “increased.” It also attempts variation with phrases such as “per head” and “per person.” However, word choice and collocation are often awkward or repetitive: “the average carbon dioxide CO2 emissions,” “emitted in every individual,” and “showed decline level” are not natural ways to describe the data. “Crystal clear from the picture” is informal and adds little in an academic report. Use precise graph language consistently, such as “emissions per capita,” “stood at,” “fell to,” and “rose steadily,” while avoiding repeated references to the picture.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

There are attempts to combine clauses and use comparative structures, but complex sentences are often faulty, and errors occur frequently enough to make some relationships unclear. For example, “UK had 11 metric tonnes … in 1967 on the other hand, which dramatically declined” has an incomplete and confusing clause; “Sweden … sharply decline and stayed” also has inconsistent verb forms. Articles and sentence punctuation are unreliable, as in “had highest emission” and the comma after “chart” in “from the chart, that.” Aim for shorter, complete sentences first, then add controlled complex structures. Check past-tense consistency and ensure each clause has a clear subject and verb.

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