Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-11-12

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 given line graph illustrates the average amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) released per person in four various countries the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal from 1967 to 2007.

Overall, the United Kingdom people are emitted highest Carbon dioxide while, Portugal was remained as the least throughout the period.

In 1967 the UK released above 10 metric tone of carbon gas followed by, Sweden just above to 8 metric tone, Italy produces around 4 metric tone and finally, Portugal approximately 2 metric tone on carbon dioxide emitted. Between one decade, except UK remaining countries are showing upward trend. In the period 1987 to 1997 Italy overtook the Sweden around 7 metric tone.

However, Italy and Portugal are increased gradually. Italy citizens emitted constant Carbon dioxide nearly 8 metric tone between 1997 and 2007. The Portugal and Sweden are merged at just below to 6 metric tone as the least average amount of Carbon dioxide released.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall contrast: the UK had the highest emissions, while Portugal began at the lowest level, and you note Italy’s rise and its overtaking of Sweden. Several figures and trends are broadly accurate, including the UK’s starting level and Italy’s near-stable figure at the end. However, the overview is incomplete: Portugal did not remain the lowest throughout, since it reached the same approximate level as Sweden in 2007. The statement that all countries except the UK rose in the first decade is also inaccurate; Sweden rose, but Italy and Portugal rose too, while the UK was nearly unchanged. Include the key long-term pattern that UK and Swedish emissions fell overall, whereas Italy and Portugal increased.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement, moving from an introduction and overview to earlier figures and then later developments. Paragraphing helps distinguish the overview from the details, and time markers such as “In 1967” and “Between 1997 and 2007” support the sequence. However, some links are awkward or unclear. “Between one decade” does not specify the period, and “In the period 1987 to 1997 Italy overtook the Sweden” would be clearer if it directly connected the comparison to the figures. The final sentence also combines the convergence of Sweden and Portugal with the claim that they were “the least,” which makes the comparison less precise. Use explicit time references and clearer links between each trend and its comparison.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “average,” “released,” “upward trend,” “overtook,” and “gradually,” so the main information is generally understandable. There is some variety in how emissions are described, but several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “four various countries,” “people are emitted,” “metric tone,” and “are merged.” Repetition of “carbon dioxide” and “metric tone” also limits precision. Choose standard chart language consistently: countries’ emissions “stood at” a figure, “rose” or “fell,” and “converged” when two values became similar. More accurate collocations and less repetition would make the description clearer and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, and the reader can usually follow the comparisons. However, errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction remain noticeable. For example, “the United Kingdom people are emitted highest” has an incorrect passive construction and agreement; “Portugal was remained” uses an unnecessary auxiliary; and “Italy produces” shifts tense in a past-period description. Punctuation also creates awkward breaks in phrases such as “followed by, Sweden.” Use the past simple consistently for the historical data, and build comparisons with a clear subject and verb—for example, “UK emissions were the highest” and “Portugal remained the lowest.” Greater control of these patterns would improve accuracy while preserving your range of sentence forms.

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

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