Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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)

This line graph explains the amount of carbon dioxide emission per person in four countries such as the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal between period of 1967 to 2007.

The highest amount of emission were seen in the United Kingdom. But, the lowest amount of emission was observed in Portugal.

In 1967, the United Kingdom recorded the highest emission of about 10.8 tonnes. While, Sweden recorded second highest emission of about 10.5 tonnes in the year of 1977. However, Portugal and Italy showed less amount of carbon dioxide emission than United Kingdom and Sweden.

After, 1997 emission of carbon dioxide started decerasing in the United Kingdom and Sweden. The emission seen in United Kingdom was gradual but Sweden emission rate suddenly start declining after 1977. While, emission rate almost became constant in countries of Italy (almost 7.8 tonnes) and Portugal(almost 5.5 tonnes).

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the countries and period, and note the broad extremes: the UK is highest overall and Portugal begins lowest. However, the report only partially covers the graph and its overview is incomplete: it does not clearly summarise the contrasting long-term trends, especially Italy’s rise and Sweden’s peak in 1977 followed by a marked fall. Some details are inaccurate or unclear: Sweden’s 1977 figure is about 10.3 tonnes, not 10.5, and the UK and Sweden were already declining before 1997. The claim that Italy and Portugal were almost constant applies only near the end, not across the period. The response is also 15 words below the required minimum; develop the overview and comparisons with a few more accurate details.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic sequence: an introduction, a brief statement of the extremes, and then details about the countries. This gives the reader some organisation, and linking words such as “However” and “While” show attempts to connect ideas. Nevertheless, progression is limited because the account does not group the main trends clearly, and several transitions are awkward or repetitive, including repeated use of “emission” and sentence openings such as “After” and “While.” The final paragraph also combines the UK and Sweden’s declines with Italy and Portugal’s late stability without clearly separating these comparisons. Use a distinct overview followed by paragraphs organised around rising and falling trends, and make each comparison explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “carbon dioxide,” “tonnes,” “declining,” and “constant,” so the main subject is generally clear. However, the range is limited and several phrases are repetitive or imprecise, such as “amount of emission” and “emission rate.” Some collocations are unnatural, for example “the highest amount of emission were seen” and “showed less amount.” There are also spelling and word-form problems, notably “decerasing,” which reduce accuracy. Aim for concise, conventional chart language and vary the terms used for changes, such as “emissions per person,” “rose,” “fell,” and “levelled off.” Check spelling and use natural combinations such as “recorded the highest emissions.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including contrasts introduced by “But” and “However,” and the overall meaning can usually be followed. However, control is uneven. Agreement errors appear in “The highest amount of emission were seen,” while sentence fragments occur in “While, Sweden recorded…” and “While, emission rate…”. Other problems include “between period of 1967 to 2007,” missing articles in phrases such as “in United Kingdom,” and inconsistent sentence punctuation around the country names. These errors make some relationships less clear. Practise complete sentences with accurate subject–verb agreement, and use a consistent pattern such as “from 1967 to 2007” when describing the time span.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.