Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-15

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 compares the emissions of carbon dioxide CO2 per person in metric tonnes in the United kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal between 1967 to 2007.

Overall, United kingdom has the highest amount of CO2 emissions over the period, while Portugal ranked the lowest quantity.

United kingdom decreased gradually by starting in the highest amount which is 11 metric tonnes in 1967 to 9 in 2007. Sweden shows a dramatical growth in 1977 a peak of 10 metric tonnes before falling sharply to become the lowest in 2007 with 5 metric tonnes.

Italy and Portugal increased gradually all over the period. Emission of CO2 in Italy was 4 metrix tonnes in 1967, and becomes 8 in 2007. In Portugal the

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the graph’s subject and give a broad overview, noting that the UK is highest overall and Portugal starts lowest. You also report several relevant trends: UK emissions fall, Sweden peaks in 1977 and then declines, and Italy rises. However, the response is incomplete: the final sentence about Portugal stops at “In Portugal the”, so its substantial increase and its 2007 level are not reported. The claim that Portugal ranked lowest throughout is also inaccurate, since it reaches the same approximate level as Sweden in 2007. The response contains 111 words, below the required 150, which limits the coverage and development of the summary. Include a complete account of the main comparisons and a clear overview supported by accurate details.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and a paragraph describing country trends. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “while,” and “before” help show contrast and sequence. However, the progression is limited because the country details are compressed into one paragraph, and the final Portugal sentence is unfinished, leaving the account abruptly incomplete. Some connections between ideas are also awkward, as in “Sweden shows a dramatical growth in 1977 a peak … before falling,” where the relationship between the rise, peak, and decline is not clearly signposted. Use complete sentences and group related comparisons—for example, the declining UK and Sweden trends together, then the rising Italy and Portugal trends—to make the progression easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “emissions,” “metric tonnes,” “peak,” “falling sharply,” and “increased gradually,” so the reader can understand the main subject and trends. There is some variation in how changes are described. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “highest amount,” “lowest quantity,” and “shows a dramatical growth.” “Ranked the lowest quantity” is not a natural way to describe a figure, and “metrix” is misspelled. Repetition of “increased” and “amount” also limits precision. Choose standard graph language such as “recorded the highest emissions,” “reached a peak,” and “rose steadily,” and check spelling and word forms before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more developed sentence forms, including a contrast with “while” and a sequence using “before,” and the main trends are generally understandable. However, the range is limited and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences awkward. For example, “between 1967 to 2007” uses an incorrect preposition pattern; write “between 1967 and 2007.” In “United kingdom decreased gradually by starting in the highest amount,” the construction is faulty, while “Italy … was 4 … and becomes 8” shifts tense inconsistently. The final sentence is incomplete, which also prevents the grammatical relationship from being clear. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and build complete sentences around each comparison.

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