Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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)

Introduction:

The provided line graph illustrates fluctuations in Average carbon dioxide emissions throughout [redacted phone] concentrating primarly on united kingdom,sweden,italy and portugal.it is structured to display hoe the data evolved chronologically.

overview:

Broadly speaking uk and sweden followed a distinct downwards trajectory.where as italy and portugal headed in the reverce direction.the most striking pattern is that while emissions uk and sweden dropped significantly overtime,italy and portugal experenced steady increase converging near the same level 2007.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify the broad contrast in the graph: emissions in the UK and Sweden generally fell, while Italy and Portugal rose, and you note that the latter two were at similar levels by 2007. These are relevant main features. However, the response only gives an introduction and overview, with no supporting figures or detailed comparisons, so it addresses the task minimally. The overview also overstates the pattern: Sweden rose from about 8.6 to 10.3 tonnes before declining, rather than falling throughout. The response is 76 words below the required minimum, which leaves too little space to report the key stages and data. Add a concise body paragraph with selected figures, including the UK’s continued lead and Italy’s rise to about 7.6 tonnes.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic, recognisable structure, with an introduction followed by an overview, and the overview groups the countries by their general trends. This gives the reader a starting point for understanding the graph. However, there is no further progression into supporting details or comparisons, so the organisation remains incomplete. The transitions within the overview are also awkward: “where as” does not clearly connect the contrast, and the full stop after “trajectory” interrupts the relationship between the clauses. Develop the response with a body paragraph organised around the contrasting trends, and use clear links such as “By contrast” and “Meanwhile” to guide the reader.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “line graph,” “emissions,” “trajectory,” “converging,” and “steady increase.” These choices show an attempt to describe trends rather than simply list countries. However, several spelling errors and imprecise or unnatural phrases reduce control: “primarly,” “reverce,” and “experenced” are misspelled, while “headed in the reverse direction” is less precise than saying emissions rose. Capitalisation and spacing are also inconsistent in country names and “UK.” The limited response gives little evidence of a wider range of accurate vocabulary. Check spelling carefully and use precise trend language such as “declined,” “rose,” “peaked,” and “levelled off” where appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both a longer introductory sentence and a more complex overview, including a contrast between the country groups. However, sentence control is inconsistent. The opening sentence lacks a clear grammatical construction after “concentrating primarily on,” and the overview contains a sentence fragment after “trajectory.” The clause beginning “while emissions…” is not punctuated or connected smoothly to the main clause. Capital letters, commas, and full stops are also frequently missing or misplaced, making the text harder to read. Practise writing complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check that subordinate clauses are attached to a main clause. For example, combine the contrast as: “While UK and Swedish emissions generally fell, those in Italy and Portugal rose.”

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