Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-25

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 graph illustrates that the average carbon dioxide release per person in the Uk, Sweden, Italy and Portugal between 1967 and 2007.

Overall, the graph give the information about average carbon dioxide release per person in 1967 to 2007. In 1967, carbon dioxide release from UK was about 11 metric tonnes and in Italy release 4 metric tonnes.In 1987, carbon dioxide release from UK was about 10 metric tonnes and in Italy it was release about 7 metric tonnes. In 2007, carbon dioxide release from Uk was about 9 metric tonnes and in Italy it was release about 7.9 metric tonnes.

In 1967, carbon dioxide release from Sweden was about 8.4 metric tonnes and in Portugal it was release about 1.2 metric tonnes. In 1987, carbon dioxide release from Sweden was about 7 metric tonnes and in Portugal it was about 3 metric tonnes. In 2007, carbon dioxide release from Sweden was about 5.7 metric tonnes and in Portugal it was release about 5.7 metric tonnes. It was lower then th other two countries.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the four countries and give several relevant figures, including the UK’s decline and Portugal’s rise. However, the response mainly lists selected values rather than summarising the graph’s main features. The overview repeats that the graph gives information but does not state the key overall patterns: the UK remained highest, Sweden peaked in 1977 before falling, and Italy and Portugal generally increased. Some details are also inaccurate: Italy was about 7.6 tonnes in 2007, not 7.9, and Sweden and Portugal were both about 5.4, rather than 5.7. The final claim that Portugal was lower than the other two countries is unclear and overlooks that it matched Sweden at the end. Select the main trends and compare them accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic paragraph structure, and the figures are grouped into two paragraphs: first the UK and Italy, then Sweden and Portugal. This gives the reader some organisation. However, there is little overall progression because the second paragraph largely repeats the same year-by-year pattern, and the overview does not provide a clear organising summary. Repeated openings such as “In 1967” and “In 1987” make the report feel like a list. Some linking within sentences is attempted with “and” and “In,” but relationships between trends are not clearly expressed. Build a clearer sequence: introduce the main overview, then compare the countries with rising emissions against those that declined, using concise links such as “by contrast” and “whereas.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is sufficient to identify the subject and report basic quantities, using terms such as “average,” “per person,” and “metric tonnes.” However, the range is limited and repetitive: “carbon dioxide release” appears repeatedly, and “about” is used for nearly every figure. Some word choices and forms are inaccurate or awkward, including “the graph give the information” and “It was lower then th other two countries.” These choices make parts of the report less clear, although the general topic remains understandable. Use standard graph-reporting language and vary the verbs and comparisons, for example “emissions,” “stood at,” “rose,” “fell,” and “was comparable to.” Check spelling and choose precise phrases for comparisons.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You use mostly simple sentence patterns to report figures, and the basic meaning is generally recoverable. However, the range is limited, with repeated structures such as “In [year], carbon dioxide release from [country] was about…” There are frequent errors in sentence formation and agreement: “The graph illustrates that the average …” lacks a complete clause after “that,” while “the graph give” should use a singular verb. Several clauses also have faulty constructions, such as “in Italy release 4 metric tonnes” and “it was release about 7 metric tonnes.” Punctuation is inconsistent, including a missing space after the full stop in “tonnes.In.” Practise accurate comparative sentences and vary structures, while checking subject–verb agreement and complete clauses.

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