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 chart illustrates average carbon dioxide, in metric tonnes, emissions per person in four nation between 1967 and 2007.

Overall, it can be seen that Unitied Kinddom reamined the highest nation responsible for carbon emission, while Sweden and Portugal recorded the least amount of carbon emission. Portugal showed the lowest amount of carbon emission.

In 1967, United Kingdom recorded, at 11 metric tonnes and then in next three years it dropped at, 10 mertic tonnes. Carbon emission recorded, at 9 metric tonnes in 2007. In addition, Sweden recorded, at 7 in initial years, then it rose slightly, at just above 10 metric tonness in 1977. After a decade, it dropped at 6 metric tonnes and ended up, at just lower than 6 metric tonnes.

On the other hand, Italy and Portugal showed upward trend as years incresed. Italy showed 4 mertic tonnes carbon emmission in inital years, while Portugal recorded, at 1 metric carbon tonnes. Sweden increased gradually, at 6 tonnes in 1977, however it remained almost unchaged for next two decades at ended up at 7 mertic emission. Portgual increased at 4 tonnes emission between 1987 and 1997. In 2007, recorded at 5 metric tonnes.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.0
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.0

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the overall contrast between the UK’s high emissions and the upward trends in Italy and Portugal, and you include several relevant figures. However, the overview is unclear and partly inaccurate: Sweden did not remain among the lowest throughout, as it peaked at just over 10 tonnes in 1977, while Portugal alone was consistently the lowest at the start. Some details are also misreported or confusing. For example, the UK fell over four decades, not “in next three years”; Italy rose to about 7.6 tonnes by 1997 and then levelled off, rather than ending at 7; and Sweden’s initial value was about 8.6, not 7. To improve, give a precise overview and select the main trends with accurate start and end comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has paragraphs and attempts to group the UK and Sweden separately from Italy and Portugal, so the reader can recognise some organisation. However, progression is uneven: the final paragraph returns to Sweden after discussing Italy and Portugal, and the sentence “Sweden increased gradually” conflicts with the earlier account of its sharp rise and subsequent fall. Linking phrases such as “In addition” and “On the other hand” are used, but do not always clarify the relationship between the information. Several clauses are also awkwardly punctuated, which interrupts the flow. Organise the report by clear trend groups, keep each country’s account together, and use comparisons to connect related figures rather than adding isolated statements.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “recorded,” “dropped,” “rose,” and “upward trend,” and the reader can generally identify the subject of the report. However, the range is limited and some expressions are repetitive or imprecise, particularly repeated references to “carbon emission” and “metric tonnes.” Several word-choice and spelling errors are noticeable, such as “nation” for countries, “Unitied Kinddom,” “mertic,” and “emmission.” Phrases such as “7 metric emission” and “1 metric carbon tonnes” are not natural or clear. Use standard terms such as “emissions per person,” “stood at,” and “tonnes per capita,” and check spelling carefully. More precise vocabulary would make comparisons easier to understand.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast with “while” and a time clause beginning “as years increased.” However, many sentences contain errors in sentence construction, articles, prepositions, or agreement, and these sometimes make the meaning difficult to follow. For example, “United Kingdom recorded, at 11 metric tonnes” has an unnecessary comma and an incomplete pattern; “then in next three years it dropped at” has an incorrect article and preposition; and “it remained almost unchanged for next two decades at ended up” combines clauses incorrectly. There is also a tense and meaning problem in “Sweden increased gradually” after describing a fall. Practise complete subject–verb structures and use past-tense reporting consistently.

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