Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
We are visualising a graph that shows the average rate of CO2 emissions in different countries of the world. The CO2 emission in UNITED KINGDOM, SWEDEN , ITALY and PORTUGAL varies differently between 1967 to 2007.
First of all, UK face a constant fall with some minor changes from 1967 to 2007.
UK starts from approximately 11 metric tonnes and falls to 9 metric tonnes of emission.Like that of UK SWEDEN also face emission drop from round about point 9 to 5.5 . The trend changes in SWEDEN varies from firsrt a good rise which is followed by a massive drop.
On the other hand, ITALY and PORTUGAL both rises from points 4, 1.5 to 7.8 , 4.75 respectively.The trend of both countries is followed by a graduall increase with no fall.From 1967 to 2007 their CO2 emission rate doubles.
To conclude, from 1967 to 2007 UK and SWEDEN faces a drop while ITALY and PORTUGAL faces a rise in CO2 emission rates
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all four countries and identifies the main trends. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you correctly identify the downward trend for the UK and Sweden and the upward trend for Italy and Portugal, you miss key details such as the specific peak in Sweden (around 1977) or the fact that the UK's decline was not entirely constant. The summary is accurate but lacks the depth required for a higher band, as it relies on simple descriptions of the trends rather than highlighting significant data points or comparing the countries' relative positions effectively. To improve, ensure you select more specific data points to support your observations.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices like 'First of all', 'On the other hand', and 'To conclude' to signal transitions. However, the flow within paragraphs is occasionally mechanical. For instance, the transition between the UK and Sweden in the second paragraph is abrupt ('Like that of UK SWEDEN also...'). Additionally, the referencing is sometimes unclear, and the punctuation around these devices could be improved to ensure smoother reading. The overall progression is logical, but the use of cohesive devices could be more varied and sophisticated.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is quite repetitive and lacks precision. You frequently use basic verbs like 'falls', 'rises', and 'face'. Phrases such as 'round about point 9' and 'a good rise' are informal and imprecise for an academic report. There is limited use of less common lexical items or collocations that would demonstrate a higher level of control. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', 'declined steadily', or 'experienced a significant surge'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Subject-verb agreement is a recurring issue, such as 'UK face a constant fall' (should be 'faces') and 'ITALY and PORTUGAL both rises' (should be 'rise'). There are also issues with article usage ('the UK' is missing in some places) and awkward phrasing like 'The trend changes in SWEDEN varies'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. Focusing on proofreading for basic agreement and tense consistency would significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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