Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-29

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 illustrates the average emitter of carbon dioxide per person in united kingdom sweden italy and portugal between 1967 and 2007.

Overall, there is constantly decrease in the UK but UK remain highest emitter there is fluctuation in sweden while italy and portugal has gradual increase however portugal remain least emitter .

In 1997 the UK is emitter of 12 metric tonnes of carbon di oxide over the period of time the value decreased to 8.5 metric tonnes in 2007 on the other hand portugal is least emitter of carbon di oxide from starting to end and there is constant increase in emission of carbon di oxide in Portugal while sweden is on second highest with starting from 8.3 m tric tonnes and it fluctuated over the period however italy started from 4.2 and gradual increase in it

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the overall directions correctly: UK emissions fell, Sweden fluctuated, and Italy and Portugal rose; you also note that the UK remained the highest and Portugal began as the lowest. However, the account is partial and under-developed. The claim that the UK emitted 12 tonnes in 1997 is inaccurate: it was about 9.5, and the UK’s starting figure was about 10.8. You omit key comparisons, including Sweden’s peak in 1977 and Italy overtaking Sweden by 1997. The response also ends without completing the comparison of Italy’s trend. It contains 130 words, below the required 150; develop the main features with accurate figures and a fuller overview.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic overall shape: an introduction, an overview, and a paragraph with figures. This helps the reader recognise the topic and some broad trends. However, progression is limited because the final paragraph combines several countries in one long sentence, moving from the UK to Portugal, Sweden and Italy without clear separation. Linking phrases such as “on the other hand” and “however” are used, but the relationships between the points are not always clear, and the final idea is unfinished. Organise the details into clearer comparisons—for example, declining/high-emission countries and rising/lower-emission countries—and use separate sentences to make each comparison easy to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “average,” “fluctuation,” “metric tonnes,” and “gradual increase,” so the reader can understand the subject and broad trends. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are unnatural, especially the repeated phrase “emitter of carbon dioxide.” “Average emitter” is also not an accurate way to describe the measure, which is emissions per person. Spelling and form errors such as “carbon di oxide” and “m tric” reduce accuracy. Aim for precise chart language and avoid repeating the same phrase: terms such as “per-capita emissions,” “emissions level,” and “rose steadily” would make the report clearer and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast with “while” and a sequence linked by “on the other hand.” However, the range is limited, and errors are frequent enough to make some sentences difficult to follow. Examples include “there is constantly decrease,” “UK remain highest emitter,” and “italy and portugal has gradual increase,” where articles, verb forms and subject–verb agreement are not controlled. The long final sentence also lacks clear punctuation and contains incomplete phrasing, such as “however italy started from 4.2 and gradual increase in it.” Use shorter, complete sentences, check singular and plural agreement, and maintain consistent past-tense reporting of the historical data.

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