Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-07-30

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 6.5)

The line graph illustrates the average carbon dioxide per person of four countries which are United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, and Portugal from 1967 to 2007.

In this graph, when we start from highest average carbon dioxide emission in metric tonnes to lowest then first is United Kingdom, second is Sweden, third is Italy, and the last one with lowest carbon dioxide emission in metric tonnes is Portugal.

The graph shows the data from 1967 to 2007 of carbon dioxide emission in metrics tonnes. The average carbon dioxide emissions in metric tonnes in Portugal rises from 0 to 5 approximately, Italy average carbon dioxide emissions in metric tonnes also increases from 4 to7 approximately, Sweden average carbon dioxide emission in metric tonnes declining from 9 to 5 approximately, and United Kingdom carbon dioxide emission in metric tonnes also decreases from 11 to 9 approximately.

In conclusion, United Kingdom seems to be highest, and Portugal Seems to be lowest in term of carbon dioxide emission in metric tonnes at least for 40 years.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers the main features of the graph, identifying the trends for all four countries. However, the overview is weak; it merely lists the countries by their starting values rather than highlighting the significant trends (e.g., the convergence of emissions or the contrasting directions of the UK/Sweden versus Italy/Portugal). The description of the data is somewhat mechanical, relying on a list-like structure. To reach a higher band, you should group the countries by their trends—those that increased versus those that decreased—and provide a more analytical summary of the overall changes over the 40-year period.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organised into an introduction, a body paragraph, and a conclusion. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat repetitive, and the use of cohesive devices is limited. The transition between sentences is often abrupt, and the structure of the body paragraph feels like a list of individual data points rather than a cohesive analysis. Using more varied linking words such as 'in contrast,' 'meanwhile,' or 'subsequently' would improve the flow. Additionally, the paragraphing is minimal; separating the trends into two distinct paragraphs (e.g., one for the countries that decreased and one for those that increased) would enhance the logical structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You frequently repeat phrases like 'average carbon dioxide emission in metric tonnes' and 'increases/decreases.' While these terms are accurate, the repetition makes the writing feel monotonous. There is an attempt to use some topic-specific vocabulary, but it is not used with enough flexibility. To improve, try to use synonyms or paraphrasing to avoid repeating the same noun phrases throughout the text. For example, instead of repeating the full unit of measurement, you could refer to 'these figures' or 'the levels' after the initial mention.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('the United Kingdom'), incorrect verb forms ('Portugal rises' instead of 'rose'), and punctuation issues. The sentence structure is often repetitive, starting with the subject followed by the verb. To achieve a higher band, you should aim for more complex sentence structures, such as using subordinate clauses (e.g., 'While Sweden experienced a decline, Italy saw a steady increase'). Additionally, ensure subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage, as the data refers to a past period (1967–2007).

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