Free Resources / Writing Sample Answers
Cambridge 12 Writing Task 1 Test 1 - Sample Answers (Band 9 to 4-5)
Real band 9, 8, 7 and 6.5 sample answers for this prompt, plus a genuine band 4-5 answer so you can see exactly what pulls a score down. Every sample comes with examiner-style notes on Task Achievement, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range & Accuracy.
The Prompt
Energy Production from Different Sources
The bar chart below shows the changes in energy produced from different sources in a country between 1985 and 2003.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
The Data
Energy production by source (petajoules)
Thermal: 150 (1985) → 175 (1995) → 200 (2003)
Hydro: 30 (1985) → 35 (1995) → 40 (2003)
Nuclear: 0 (1985) → 20 (1995) → 30 (2003)
Other renewables: 0 (1985) → 5 (1995) → 15 (2003)
Want feedback like this on your own writing?
Sign up free →Band 9
177 wordsIdentifies energy diversification as the underlying story, not just four separate rising lines.
The bar chart illustrates how energy production from four different sources changed in one country between 1985 and 2003.
Overall, energy production increased across all four sources over the period, with thermal energy remaining dominant throughout, while nuclear and other renewables, both absent in 1985, grew from nothing to become meaningful contributors by 2003.
Thermal energy was the largest source throughout the period, rising steadily from 150 petajoules in 1985 to 175 in 1995 and 200 in 2003, consistently producing far more energy than any other source. Hydro energy followed a similarly steady, if more modest, upward trend, increasing from 30 to 40 petajoules over the same eighteen years.
The most striking changes, however, were in nuclear energy and other renewables, neither of which existed in 1985. Nuclear energy grew to 20 petajoules by 1995 and reached 30 by 2003, overtaking hydro's growth rate, while other renewables, though still the smallest category, rose from zero to 15 petajoules, a pattern that suggests the country was actively diversifying its energy mix away from reliance on thermal power alone.
Examiner Notes
Task Achievement: Covers all four sources with a precise overview identifying the two genuinely notable features: thermal's continued dominance and the emergence of nuclear and renewables from nothing.
Coherence & Cohesion: A clear overview precedes detail organised by growth pattern, with cohesive devices ("however", "while") linking sources naturally.
Lexical Resource: Precise, varied language ("consistently", "overtaking", "diversifying its energy mix") used accurately throughout.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Wide range of accurate structures, including comparatives and non-finite clauses, used with full control.
Band 8
170 wordsAccurate and clearly organised, just slightly less analytically framed in its closing point than a band 9 answer.
The bar chart shows how much energy was produced from four different sources in one country between 1985 and 2003.
Overall, all four sources of energy increased over the period, with thermal energy staying the largest source throughout, while nuclear and other renewables started from zero in 1985 and grew significantly by 2003.
Thermal energy was consistently the biggest source, rising from 150 petajoules in 1985 to 200 in 2003. Hydro energy also grew steadily, but by a smaller amount, going from 30 to 40 petajoules over the same period.
Nuclear energy and other renewables showed the most interesting changes, since neither existed at all in 1985. Nuclear reached 20 petajoules by 1995 and 30 by 2003, while other renewables grew more slowly, reaching only 15 petajoules by the end of the period, making it the smallest source overall despite the growth. Taken together, these figures suggest the country was gradually shifting toward a more diverse energy mix rather than relying on any single new source to replace thermal power.
Examiner Notes
Task Achievement: Covers all four sources accurately with a clear overview, though the closing observation about renewables being smallest "despite the growth" is a slightly less analytically framed point than the band 9 answer's diversification comment.
Coherence & Cohesion: Clearly organised with an overview followed by grouped detail; cohesive devices are accurate throughout.
Lexical Resource: Good range of vocabulary for describing trends, though "the most interesting changes" is a little less precise than more specific comparative language.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Accurate throughout, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures.
Band 7
158 wordsAll figures are correct, but the same phrase describes almost every increase in the chart.
The bar chart gives information about energy production from four sources in a country between 1985 and 2003.
Overall, energy production went up for all four sources during this time, and thermal energy was always the biggest source, while nuclear and other renewables did not exist at the start of the period.
Thermal energy went from 150 petajoules in 1985 to 200 in 2003, staying the largest source the whole time. Hydro energy also went up, from 30 to 40 petajoules, but this was a smaller increase than thermal energy.
Nuclear energy started at 0 in 1985 and grew to 30 petajoules by 2003. Other renewables also started at 0, but only grew to 15 petajoules, which made it the smallest source of energy by the end of the period. These changes together show that the country was beginning to diversify its energy supply, even though thermal power remained by far the largest contributor throughout the whole period.
Examiner Notes
Task Achievement: Reports all four sources accurately with a basic overview, but the overview reads as a summary rather than an analysis, and the comparison between thermal's increase and hydro's is stated plainly rather than quantified.
Coherence & Cohesion: Clearly organised by source, though "went up" is repeated several times throughout.
Lexical Resource: Adequate range for the task; figures are accurate but connecting language stays fairly plain throughout.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Generally accurate, mostly simple sentence structures; meaning is always clear.
Band 6.5
167 wordsThe figures are all correct, but agreement errors appear in almost every sentence.
The bar chart give information about energy production from four source in a country between 1985 and 2003.
Overall, energy production go up for all four source during this time, and thermal energy was always biggest source, while nuclear and other renewable not exist at start of period.
Thermal energy go from 150 petajoule in 1985 to 200 in 2003, staying largest source whole time. Hydro energy also go up, from 30 to 40 petajoule, but this was smaller increase than thermal energy.
Nuclear energy start at 0 in 1985 and grow to 30 petajoule by 2003. Other renewable also start at 0, but only grow to 15 petajoule, which make it smallest source of energy by end of period. These change together show that country was beginning to diversify energy supply, even though thermal power remain by far largest contributor throughout whole period. This pattern is common in many country during this period, as government look for way to reduce dependence on one single energy source.
Examiner Notes
Task Achievement: Reports all four sources accurately with a basic overview, matching the content of the band 7 answer.
Coherence & Cohesion: Clearly organised by source, following the same structure as the higher-band answers.
Lexical Resource: Limited by "source", "petajoule" and "renewable" being used without their plural forms throughout.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Frequent subject-verb agreement errors ("chart give", "production go up", "thermal energy go", "nuclear energy start", "grow to") appear in nearly every sentence.
Band 4-5 - What to Avoid
52 wordsOne whole energy source is missing entirely, and it closes with a personal opinion rather than a report.
This chart show energy in country. Thermal is biggest number every year, it go up.
Nuclear is 0 in 1985, then it go up to 30 in 2003. This is big change.
Other energy also go up a little, this is good for environment I think, more clean energy is important today.
Examiner Notes
Task Achievement: Hydro is never mentioned at all, most figures are reported vaguely without exact numbers, and the closing comment about clean energy being important is a personal opinion that has no place in a Task 1 report. At well under 150 words, the response is also underlength.
Coherence & Cohesion: Reads as three short, disconnected remarks rather than an organised comparison across all four sources.
Lexical Resource: Vague, repetitive vocabulary ("go up", "big change") used instead of the specific figures given in the source data.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Frequent errors throughout ("chart show", "Thermal is biggest number", "it go up").
Practise this exact prompt yourself, with a live timer and word count
Free to sign up, no credit card required.
Sign Up Free →These sample answers are written independently for Prep IELTS Now to illustrate real band-score differences. They are a study aid, not official Cambridge or IELTS material.