Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-27

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 illustrated the trends of average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per person in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal between 1967 and 2007.

Overall, there are four countries such as United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal shows the average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per person from 1967 to 2000.

In the United Kingdom the average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per person use around 11% and fall to the 9% in 2007.

Where the Sweden in 1967 the average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per person approximately 9% once time it rose up and then descreased to the 5% in 2007. On the other hand, in 1967 the average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per person in Italy was approximately 3% and rose to the 7% in 2007.

The Portugal contain the average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per person in 1967 from 1% and increased up to 5%.. There are 4 countries such as United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal shows average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per person between 1967 and 2007

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the four countries and the overall directions of several trends, including the UK’s decline and the rises in Italy and Portugal. However, the overview is unclear: it mainly repeats that the graph covers four countries and gives an incorrect end year of 2000, rather than summarising the key pattern across the period. Some figures are also inaccurate or use the wrong unit: emissions are measured in tonnes, not percentages; Italy starts at about 4.3 tonnes, not 3, and reaches about 7.6, while Portugal ends at about 5.4. Sweden’s rise to a peak in 1977 before falling is only vaguely described. Select the main comparisons and report them accurately to make the summary more complete and relevant.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic sequence: an introduction, a general statement, and then descriptions of the countries. This gives the reader some sense of the topic, and phrases such as “On the other hand” attempt to connect comparisons. However, the overview repeats the introduction and is not a clear summary, while the final sentence repeats much of the same information again. The country descriptions are placed in separate sentences but do not build a strong progression of comparisons; for example, the UK and Sweden could be grouped as declining series, and Italy and Portugal as rising ones. Use a concise overview followed by logically grouped details, and avoid repeating the same country list.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “average carbon dioxide emissions,” “trends,” “rose” and “increased,” so the subject is generally recognisable. However, the wording is highly repetitive, especially the repeated full phrase “average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per person.” Several choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “use around 11%” does not describe a figure, “once time” is unclear, and “The Portugal contain” is not an appropriate way to describe the data. “Descreased” is also misspelled. Use concise alternatives such as “emissions,” “stood at,” “peaked,” and “declined,” while keeping the unit as tonnes rather than percentages. More precise collocations would make the report clearer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a few different sentence patterns, including a contrast introduced by “On the other hand” and a time clause beginning “Where the Sweden in 1967.” However, the range remains limited, and errors in sentence construction and agreement occur frequently enough to make parts difficult to follow. For example, “four countries … shows” has subject–verb disagreement, while “Where the Sweden in 1967 the … approximately 9%” is not a complete, well-formed sentence. The opening overview also shifts awkwardly between “there are” and “shows.” Practise complete subject–verb structures such as “Emissions in Sweden stood at…” and “They then fell…”. Check articles, agreement, and punctuation when joining clauses.

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.