Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-16

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 rendered linear representation depicts the information about average carbon dioxide emissions each individual in the UK, Sweden, Italy and Portugal from 1967 to 2007

In an overview, it is evident that emission of carbon dioxide is inclining in all nations except Sweden

To commence with, in case of Portugal the consumption of carbon dioxide was 1 metric tonnes in first given year which hiked to almost 5 metric tonnes. Similarly, Italy consumption of carbon dioxide was 4 metric tonnes in 1967 which incline to almost 8 metric tonnes in last given year

Probing ahead with remaining details, in case of

Sweden consumption of carbon dioxide was 9 metric tonnes which rose to 10 metric tonnes before declining to 5 metric tonnes in 2007. Noticeably, the consumption of carbon dioxide in the UK in 2007 and 1967 ranged between 9 to 11 metric tonnes

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the countries and time period, and include several relevant figures: Portugal rises from about 1 to 5 tonnes, Italy from about 4 to nearly 8, and Sweden peaks at around 10 before falling to 5. However, the overview is inaccurate: emissions did not rise in all countries except Sweden, because UK emissions also declined. The UK comparison is vague, and the response omits its steady downward trend as well as Italy’s levelling off by 2007. These omissions and the limited development of comparisons leave the task only partially covered. The response is also 144 words, below the required minimum of 150. Add a concise, accurate overview and compare the main trends and end values more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic structure, with an opening, an overview and two paragraphs grouping the countries. Phrases such as “To commence with” and “Probing ahead” signal movement between sections, and the reader can generally follow the country-by-country account. However, progression is not consistently clear: the overview makes a broad claim that conflicts with the later information, and the final UK sentence gives a range rather than clearly describing the trend. Linking expressions are somewhat formulaic, while “Similarly” does not establish a particularly useful comparison between Portugal and Italy. Organise the body around clearer comparisons—for example, declining versus rising emissions—and use references and transitions that show how each figure supports the overview.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “average carbon dioxide emissions,” “declining,” and “metric tonnes,” so the topic is understandable. There is also an attempt to vary phrasing with “overview” and “Noticeably.” However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing a graph: “linear representation” is an awkward label for a line graph, “consumption of carbon dioxide” misrepresents emissions, and “hiked” is too informal. Repetition of “consumption of carbon dioxide” also limits precision. Choose standard graph language and collocations, such as “emissions per person,” “rose,” “fell,” and “remained stable.” This would make the account clearer and more appropriately academic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, and the main meaning is usually recoverable. For example, the sentence about Sweden communicates a rise followed by a decline. However, errors in agreement, articles, tense and sentence construction occur throughout: “emission … is inclining” has a number and tense problem, “in first given year” lacks an article, and “Italy consumption … which incline” has an incorrect possessive construction and verb form. The opening sentence also lacks final punctuation, and the UK sentence’s “ranged between 9 to 11” uses an incorrect pattern. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and complete sentence patterns, such as “emissions rose from … to …” and “ranged from … to ….”

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