Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-06

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 line graph illustrates average carbon dioxide emissions per person in the four countries between 1967 to 2007.

Overall, UK and Sweden showed significant drop in the four decades. On the other hand, Italy and Portugal showed similar pattern of steady growth.

Looking at the top values first, the UK had the highest emissions at 11 metric tonnes in 1967 with no change till next decade and then gradually decrease to 9 metric tonnes in 2007. Sweden started at 9 and rose sharply to above 10 in 1977, significantly dropped to 7 and the marginally went down to above 5.

Italy and Portugal showed less fluctuations. They started at above 4 and 1 in 1977 and reached to almost 8 and 5 in 3 decades and then remain same till end. Where Italy rose sharply in 1967 to 1977 and Portugal went up significantly in 1987 to 1997.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main features of the graph, identifying the downward trends for the UK and Sweden and the upward trends for Italy and Portugal. However, the response falls slightly short of the 150-word minimum, which impacts the overall score. Additionally, some data points are described inaccurately; for instance, stating the UK had 'no change till next decade' is not fully supported by the graph, and the description of the trends for Italy and Portugal is somewhat confusing and lacks precision. To improve, ensure all data points are accurately interpreted and the summary is sufficiently detailed to meet the length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs focusing on the different country groupings. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On the other hand' and 'Looking at the top values first', which help guide the reader. However, the flow within the final paragraph is somewhat disjointed, and the connection between the sentences could be smoother. The use of referencing is generally clear, but the overall progression of ideas would benefit from more sophisticated linking words to connect the trends more effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'significant drop', 'steady growth', and 'fluctuations'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'marginally went down to above 5' and 'remain same till end'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise academic vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'a gradual decline', 'a sharp increase', or 'remained stable'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, including missing articles ('in the four decades'), incorrect preposition usage ('between 1967 to 2007' should be 'between 1967 and 2007'), and tense inconsistencies. Some sentences are slightly awkward, such as 'reached to almost 8 and 5 in 3 decades'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to affect the clarity of the report. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct prepositional phrases will help improve your accuracy.

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

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