Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-11-10

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 5.5)

The line graph illustrates average metric tonnes carbon dioxide emissions in per person in four different countries United Kingdome, Sweden, Italy and Portugal in 1967 and 2007.

Overall, the Portugal had the lowest co2 in the beginning of the period. Whereas, UK had the highest co2 tonnes in the starting period. However, Sweden showed upward and downward trends. Italy followed continues grew trend all over the period.

Looking at the details, UK had around 11 metric tonnes carbon dioxide per person in 1967. This figure decreased slowly to 10 metric tonnes in 1987. Moreover, after fall continued, it peaked at nearly 7 metric tonnes in 2007. Sweden had 7 metric tonnes co2 in per person in starting period. This figure grew slightly, than fall continued to 5 metric tonnes in 2007.

Remaining to the other countries, 4 metric tonnes per person had in Italy at starting figure. This figure followed significant grew and the of period with Nearly 8 metric tonnes co2 in per person. However, Portugal started with lowest co2 metric tonnes in per person with only 1. While, this figure showed an upward trend and peaked at same number as Sweden had, respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall patterns: the UK begins highest and declines, Portugal starts lowest and rises, and Italy increases. You also include several relevant figures, such as the UK at about 11 tonnes initially and Italy reaching nearly 8 by the end. However, some key details are inaccurate or unclear. The UK ends at about 8.7 tonnes, not 7, and Sweden starts at about 8.6, not 7. The overview also says Italy grew continuously, although its figure levels off between 1997 and 2007. The main features are present, but more accurate comparisons and clearer reporting of the final values would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure, with an introduction, an overview, and two detail paragraphs. The country grouping in the final paragraph also helps the reader follow the comparison. However, progression within the details is sometimes difficult to track, partly because some linking phrases are awkward or do not clearly express the relationship between ideas. For example, “Moreover, after fall continued” and “Remaining to the other countries” interrupt the flow. The overview’s “Whereas” is also left as a fragment rather than being joined to the preceding sentence. Use straightforward transitions such as “By contrast” and “Meanwhile,” and make each paragraph move clearly from starting values to later changes.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “decreased,” “upward trend,” “metric tonnes,” and “peaked,” so the reader can generally understand the trends being described. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “continues grew trend,” “after fall continued,” and “had the lowest co2.” “Peaked” is also not suitable for the UK’s final value, which is a low point in its downward trend. Spelling and presentation issues, including “United Kingdome” and inconsistent capitalisation of “CO2,” further reduce precision. Aim for accurate trend language and natural combinations, for example, “continued to rise,” “fell steadily,” and “recorded emissions of.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex forms, including comparisons and clauses beginning with “Whereas” and “However.” The main message is usually understandable, but some sentence structures and grammatical patterns are faulty. For example, “The Portugal had” uses an unnecessary article, while “4 metric tonnes per person had in Italy” has an unclear word order and missing subject. In “This figure grew slightly, than fall continued,” the comparison marker and verb forms are not correctly constructed. The overview also contains a sentence fragment beginning “Whereas.” Practise complete clause structures, consistent past-tense reporting, and accurate subject–verb patterns; these changes would make your comparisons much easier to read.

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