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)

Introdection:

The provided line graph illustrates fluctuations in average carbon dioxide emissions per year through out [redacted phone] concentrating primarily on United kingdom,sweden,italy and portugal.the structured display how the data evolved chonologically.

Overview:

Broadly speaking in the UK and sweden followed in distinct downward trajectory where as the italy and portugal headed in the reverce direction the most striking pateernis is that while emissions in the uk and sweden dropped significantly over time,italy and portugal experienced steady increases converging near the same level by 2007

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify the broad contrast in the graph: emissions fall in the UK and Sweden, while Italy and Portugal rise, and you note that the latter two reach similar levels by 2007. These are relevant main features. However, the response is only a brief introduction and overview, with no supporting figures or account of important changes—for example, Sweden’s rise to a peak in 1977 before its decline, or Italy’s increase followed by a plateau. The task requires a fuller summary of the data, and the response is 66 words below the 150-word minimum. Develop the overview with selected comparisons and key values, rather than stopping after the general trends.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable order: an introduction is followed by an overview, and the overview groups the countries by their contrasting trends. This gives the reader a basic sense of organisation. However, there is no further progression into details or comparisons, so the response feels incomplete rather than fully developed. The linking phrases “Broadly speaking” and “where as” help signal the overview, but the latter is not punctuated clearly, and the long overview sentence joins several ideas without effective separation. Use separate, clearly structured sentences and add a detail paragraph comparing the countries’ starting points, changes and final figures.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing a line graph, including “fluctuations,” “downward trajectory,” “steady increases” and “converging.” These choices show an attempt to use more than basic trend language. However, several spelling errors and inaccurate or awkward expressions reduce clarity, including “chonologically,” “reverce direction” and “most striking pateernis.” “Fluctuations” is also not quite precise for the overall trends, since the UK declines gradually and Portugal rises steadily. Aim for accurate, natural collocations and check spelling carefully. A wider set of precise terms such as “declined,” “peaked,” “rose” and “levelled off” would help you describe the data more clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to combine ideas in a complex overview sentence, using a contrast between the countries and a clause beginning “while.” However, control is uneven. The opening “Broadly speaking in the UK and sweden followed” lacks a grammatical subject structure, and “where as” is not correctly integrated into the sentence. The final sentence also runs several clauses together without appropriate punctuation. The introduction’s phrase “The structured display” does not form a complete, accurate clause. Practise building clear subject–verb sentences first, then connect them with accurate contrast clauses. Full stops and commas should separate the overview’s main comparisons so that the relationships between ideas are easy to follow.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.