Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-11-02

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 the average carbon dioxide emissions per persons in the four states UK,Swedan,Italy and Portugal between the time period 1967 to 2007. Overall,there are four different countries showing average carbon dioxide emissions and explaining the carbon dioxide emissions in metric tones. In 1967, the lowest carbon dioxide emission in metric tones per person showing in Portugal which starts from 0% and ended on 4.5%.In 1977, the normal carbon dioxide emissions in metric tones starts from a normal rate 4% and end upto 6.5% this change made significant mark in this year. the most downfall rate of carbon dioxide emissions started in Swedan which generally reached upto 8-10% and then decline the rate of emission upto 4% in 1997. the most stable and balanced rate of carbon dioxide emission in UK which rised upto 10.5%.however, as the time flows they pathetically decline in their number and decreased upto 8.5%. To sum up,every country represent their own average percentage of carbon dioxide which maybe further increases and decreases in different years.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the countries and the period, and you attempt to describe several trends, including the UK’s gradual decline and Sweden’s fall after an earlier peak. However, the response only partially reports the graph’s main features, so the reader does not get a reliable overview. The opening overview merely says that four countries are shown, rather than summarising the key pattern: the UK remained highest, while Portugal rose from the lowest level and finished level with Sweden. Several figures and trends are inaccurate: Portugal began at about 1.2 tonnes, not 0%, and reached about 5.4 tonnes, not 4.5%; Sweden fell to about 5.4 by 2007, not 4% in 1997. Report the main comparisons accurately and avoid unsupported predictions.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is some organisation: you begin with an introduction, then discuss selected years and countries, and finish with a concluding sentence. Basic time markers such as “In 1967” and “In 1977” help the reader follow the timeline. However, the response has no clear overall progression because information is grouped inconsistently: Portugal, Sweden and the UK are mentioned, while Italy’s trend is largely omitted. The overview does not guide the later details, and phrases such as “this change made significant mark” do not clearly connect to a specific comparison. Use separate paragraphs for a concise overview and logically grouped details, and use clear links such as “By contrast” or “Meanwhile” only where they accurately show relationships.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-related vocabulary, including “emissions,” “decline,” “stable” and “average,” so the topic is generally recognisable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations make the description unclear or unsuitable for a graph. “Normal carbon dioxide emissions” does not describe a measurable trend, while “pathetically decline” is inappropriate in tone and does not mean a gradual decrease. The repeated phrase “carbon dioxide emissions in metric tones” also makes the writing cumbersome. There are spelling and form errors, including “Swedan” and “tones”; use “Sweden” and “tonnes.” Choose precise trend language such as “rose,” “peaked,” “fell” and “remained stable,” and use “tonnes per person” consistently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the response includes time clauses and comparisons. However, complex sentences are often faulty, and frequent errors sometimes make the intended meaning difficult to follow. For example, “the lowest carbon dioxide emission … showing in Portugal which starts from 0% and ended on 4.5%” lacks a clear grammatical structure and shifts inconsistently between present and past tense. There are also agreement and article problems in “every country represent” and “the most stable and balanced rate … in UK.” Use past tense consistently for the historical data, check subject–verb agreement, and form complete clauses—for example, “Portugal had the lowest emissions in 1967, at about 1.2 tonnes per person.”

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