Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-30

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 average carbon dioxide emissions per person in the UK, Sweden, Italy and Portugal between 1967 and 2007.

Overall, the emissions in metric tonnes largest share United States but their carbon dioxide decreased in before. THe smallest number of metric tonnes had to Portugal, but their corbin dioxide increased in over the period.

In United Kingdom, the corbon dioxide emissons per person was 11 metric tonnes in 1967 nad after time their emissions decreased in 1977 to 2007. The last and lowest corbon dioxide emissions per persons around 8.8 metric tonnes in 2007.

In term of Portugal and Italy, first time both countries had few metric tonnes corbon dioxide in 1967 but it was rise in after time and the number 1 metric tonnes in portugtal and 4.2 metric tonnes in Italy. Portugal increased untill 1987 and while their corbon dioxide was 3 metric tonnes. Again the number rise around 5 metric tonnes in 1997. The last number 4.7 metric tonnes in 2007. On the other hand, Italy was increased 4.2 to 6.2 in 1977. After time the number was follow fluctuation in 1977 to 1997 and the number was rise around 0.5 metric tonnes. The highest metric tonnes 7.8 in 2007.

In contrast, Sweden was a second peak country. Fristly, their corbon dioxide was 8.4 metric tonnes in 1967 and the number increased s to 10.2 metric tonnes in 1977. But their corbon dioxide emissions per person fell in 1977 to 2007. The last carbon dioxide 5.7 in 2007.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the graph’s subject and cover all four countries, with relevant figures such as the UK’s fall from about 11 tonnes to 8.8 and Sweden’s rise to a peak in 1977 before declining. However, the overview is unclear and includes a factual error: it says “United States,” which is not shown; the UK had the highest emissions throughout. Some reported trends and values are also inaccurate. Portugal rose steadily to about 5.4 tonnes in 2007, not 4.7, while Italy levelled off at about 7.6 after rising, rather than reaching its highest point in 2007. To improve, give a clear overview of the main contrasts and check each country’s figures and trend against the graph.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has an introduction, an overview and separate paragraphs for the countries, so there is some organisation. However, the progression is difficult to follow because comparisons are mixed with country-by-country details, and several linking phrases are inaccurate or repetitive, such as “After time,” “Again,” and “On the other hand.” The Portugal and Italy paragraph is especially confusing: the sequence of years and figures is not consistently presented, and “the number was follow fluctuation” does not make the relationship clear. Use a more deliberate structure—for example, group the UK and Sweden as declining overall, then compare Italy and Portugal as rising—and use time markers to guide the reader through each trend.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “emissions,” “metric tonnes,” “increased,” and “fell,” and the meaning is generally recoverable. However, the range is limited and several spelling and word-choice errors make the account less clear, including repeated forms such as “corbon,” “emissons,” and “portugtal.” Some phrases are not natural for describing a graph, for example “largest share,” “second peak country,” and “the number was follow fluctuation.” Aim for precise trend language and accurate spelling, and avoid repeating “the number” when you can name the emissions or figure directly. More natural collocations would make the comparisons easier to understand.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the response is usually understandable, but errors are frequent and sometimes make relationships between ideas unclear. Examples include “the emissions … largest share United States,” which lacks a complete grammatical structure, and “the number was follow fluctuation,” where the verb form is faulty. There are also problems with tense and agreement in “the carbon dioxide emissions per person was” and “Italy was increased.” Sentence boundaries and punctuation are mostly controlled, but the limited range of accurate structures restricts clarity. Practise describing trends with reliable patterns such as “emissions stood at,” “rose to,” and “then declined,” checking subject–verb agreement and past-tense forms.

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