Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-12

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 flauctuations in average carbon dioxide emissions per person through out [redacted phone] concentrating primarily on united kingdom,sweden,italy and portugal the structure to design how the data evolved chronologycally.

overview:

Broadly speaking the united kingdom and sweden followed a distinct downword trajactery where as the italy and portugal headed in reverce direction the most striking pattern is that while emission the uk and sweden droped significantily over time,the italy and portugal experienced steady increases converinging 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 in the UK and Sweden generally fell, while Italy and Portugal rose, and you note that the latter two reached similar levels by 2007. These are relevant main features. However, the response is only a brief introduction and overview, with no supporting figures or comparisons across the years; it therefore addresses the task only minimally. The overview also overstates the pattern slightly: Sweden rose to a peak in 1977 before declining, rather than falling throughout. The response contains 85 words, below the required 150. To develop the report, include key values and turning points—for example, the UK’s gradual decline and Sweden’s rise then fall—and compare the countries at the beginning and end.

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 according to their broad trends. This gives the reader a starting point for understanding the graph. However, there is no further paragraph or progression into specific data, so the report feels incomplete rather than fully developed. The labels “Introduction” and “overview” are not needed in a formal report, and the long overview sentence joins several ideas without clear punctuation. Build a logical sequence by introducing the graph, giving a concise overview, then using separate body paragraphs to compare the declining and rising series. Use linking expressions sparingly and make the relationship between each comparison explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt some task-relevant vocabulary, including “average carbon dioxide emissions,” “trajectory,” “steady increases” and “converging,” and the reader can generally identify the intended trends. However, spelling errors and inaccurate word forms are frequent and sometimes make the wording difficult to process, as in “flauctuations,” “downword,” “trajactery” and “converinging.” Some phrases are also unnatural or imprecise: “the structure to design how the data evolved” does not clearly describe what the graph shows, and “headed in reverse direction” is awkward. Aim for accurate, conventional reporting language and check spelling carefully. Prefer direct phrases such as “shows changes in” and “rose steadily,” and use “emissions” consistently when describing the figures.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

There is an attempt to form a complex overview sentence using contrast, including “whereas” and “while,” and the main trend can be understood. However, the response relies on a small number of long, loosely constructed sentences, and errors in sentence boundaries, articles, agreement and punctuation make the writing difficult to follow. For example, “the united kingdom,sweden,italy and portugal the structure to design…” lacks a clear grammatical connection between its clauses, while “while emission the uk and sweden droped…” has an incomplete noun phrase and an unclear verb construction. Capitalisation and commas are also inconsistent. Practise writing shorter, complete sentences first, then combine related ideas with accurate conjunctions and punctuation.

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

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