Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-07
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 daigram depicts that average carbon dioxide (CO2) emission per person in the united kingdom,sweden,italyand portugal from 1967 to 2007
overall, CO2 emission decreased in uk and sweden , while they increased considerably in italy and portugal the uk remained the highest emitter throughout the period where as the portugal has the lowest emission for most the year .
In 1967 , the UK recorded the highest emission level, at approximately 10 .8 tones per person , from italy they produced around 4.2 tonnes ,while portugal had only 1.2 tonnes .sweden figures then rose to join over 10 tonnes in 1977 ,before falling steadily to approximately 5.2 tonnes by 2007
By constract ,emission in italy increased from about 4.2 tonnes in 1967 to 6.2 tonnes in 1977 ,and continued rising to around unchanged until 2007 . portugal also experienced a steady incease ,reaching approximately 5 tonnes in 1997 and 5.2 tonnes in 2007.
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 the main features of the graph, including the overall trends and key data points for the four countries. You successfully identified the contrasting trends between the UK/Sweden (decreasing) and Italy/Portugal (increasing). However, the report is slightly underdeveloped in its analysis of the data. For instance, the statement 'around unchanged until 2007' for Italy is vague and lacks the precision required for a high band. To improve, ensure that all data points mentioned are accurate and clearly linked to the years provided, and avoid generalizations that do not reflect the specific trends shown in the graph.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices such as 'overall', 'while', and 'by contrast' to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally interrupted by mechanical errors and punctuation issues, such as missing spaces after commas and periods (e.g., 'italyand', 'period where as'). The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the transition between sentences could be smoother to improve the overall progression of the report. Improving the use of linking phrases will help the ideas connect more naturally.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'recorded', 'emission level', and 'steady increase'. However, there are several spelling errors (e.g., 'daigram', 'constract', 'incease') and issues with capitalization (e.g., 'uk', 'sweden', 'italy'). These errors are noticeable but do not prevent the reader from understanding the main points. To reach a higher band, you should focus on accurate spelling and the correct use of capitalization for proper nouns, as well as incorporating more precise vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated' or 'plateaued'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt to use complex sentences, there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation, such as missing articles ('the portugal'), subject-verb agreement issues ('sweden figures then rose'), and inconsistent capitalization. Punctuation is a significant area for improvement, particularly regarding spacing after punctuation marks. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to lower the score. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for punctuation will significantly enhance the clarity of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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