Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-05

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 given line graph visualizes the average carbon dioxide emissions in metric tonnes per person in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal between the year 1967 and 2007.

Overall, the carbon dioxide emissions from the United Kingdom decreased gradually through the years, still it remained at the top in terms of carbon dioxide emission through the years. Conversely, the emissions from Italy and Portugal increased significantly, leaving Portugal as still being the lowest in terms of carbon dioxide emissions, sharing its place with Sweden.

A decreasing trend can be observed in carbon dioxide emission from United Kingdom and Sweden between the year 1967 and 2007. The emissions from the United Kingdom decreased uniformly starting from 11 metric tonnes in 1967, reaching down to around 8.5 metric tonnes by the year 2007. However, the emissions from Sweden didn't decrease uniformly, rather it increased from being 8.5 in 1967 to almost 10.2 by 1977, then it took a major downturn and reduced steeply to almost around 5.5 metric tonnes by the year 2007.

Countries such as Italy and Portugal depicted an increase in carbon dioxide emissions through the course of 40 years from 1967 to 2007. In 1967, the emissions from Italy were around 4.2 metric tonnes, that went up dramatically to almost 7.5 metric tonnes by the year 1997 and then became constant at the same number till the year 2007. Starting from being the lowest in terms of carbon dioxide emission in the year 1967 at around 1 metric tonne, the emissions from Portugal rose to almost 5.5 metric tonnes by the year 2007, same as the emissions from Sweden in the year 2007.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. You covered all four countries and made relevant comparisons, such as noting that Portugal and Sweden ended at the same level in 2007. The data is accurately reported, and the key features are highlighted effectively. To reach a higher band, ensure that the 'overview' paragraph is more distinct and analytical, perhaps by grouping the countries based on their trends (those that increased versus those that decreased) more explicitly. Overall, you have addressed all parts of the task well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that group information by country trends. Cohesive devices such as 'Conversely', 'However', and 'Starting from' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different aspects of the data. The progression of ideas is clear throughout the text. To improve further, ensure that the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is slightly smoother, and avoid minor repetitive phrasing when introducing the trends for each country.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision, using terms like 'downturn', 'steeply', and 'dramatically'. There is a good awareness of style appropriate for an academic report. While the vocabulary is accurate, it is mostly functional. To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' to avoid repetition, such as 'fluctuated', 'plateaued', or 'a downward trajectory'. The current range is adequate but could be more flexible.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control of punctuation is generally good. There are occasional minor slips, such as 'the year 1967' (which is slightly redundant) or 'reaching down to' (which is a bit informal). However, these do not impede communication. To reach a higher band, aim for more varied complex structures, such as using participle clauses or passive voice to describe the data trends, which would demonstrate greater grammatical flexibility.

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

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