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 line chart illustrates average carbon dioxide harmful gasses per head in metric tonnes in four countries such as UK, Sweeden, Italy and Portugal during the period of 40 years. Overall, the United Kingdom accounted for largest proportion of CO^2 emissions in metric tonnes, while Portugal had the lowest one. In contrast, Sweeden had significant fall in emissions through out the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify the chart’s subject and give a broad overview, noting that the UK had the highest emissions overall and Portugal the lowest at the beginning. However, the response is far too brief to summarise the main features adequately, and it reports no figures or detailed comparisons. The statement that Portugal “had the lowest one” is not accurate for the whole period: by 2007, Sweden and Portugal were level at about 5.4 tonnes, while Portugal had risen substantially. You also mention Sweden’s decline but omit its peak in 1977 and the steady rise in Italy. To improve, include an overview of the contrasting trends and support it with selected figures. The response is 88 words below the required minimum.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic, understandable sequence: it introduces the chart and then gives an overall summary. “Overall” and “while” help signal the relationship between the two overview points, so the reader can follow the limited information presented. However, there is no developed progression beyond this short opening paragraph, and the comparison introduced by “In contrast” is not clearly connected to the preceding point: Sweden’s decline is a separate trend rather than a direct contrast with Portugal’s lowest position. Organise the report into an introduction, an overview, and detail paragraphs comparing the countries’ trends. Use linking expressions to show meaningful contrasts and changes over time, rather than adding them without a clear relationship.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant chart vocabulary, including “line chart,” “per head,” “emissions,” and “period,” and the main topic remains understandable. However, the range is limited, and several choices are inaccurate or awkward for an academic report. “Harmful gasses” is unnecessary and imprecise because the chart measures carbon dioxide emissions; “largest proportion” does not describe the highest per-person figure; and “lowest one” is vague. There are also spelling errors in “Sweeden” and “through out.” Use precise terms such as “emissions per person,” “the highest level,” and “declined,” and check spelling. A wider set of trend verbs and comparison phrases would help you describe the chart more accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response includes a compound sentence with “while” and a further sentence beginning “In contrast,” showing some ability to connect ideas. The meaning is generally clear, but the grammatical range is narrow, with little development beyond short statements. There are errors in article use and sentence construction: write “the largest amount” rather than “for largest proportion,” and “a significant fall” rather than “had significant fall.” The phrase “in four countries such as UK” is also not well formed; “in four countries: the UK, Sweden, Italy and Portugal” is clearer. Practise accurate articles and noun phrases, then use a mix of comparative and time-based structures to report changes across the years.

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