Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-10

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 average emissions of carbon dioxide per person in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal between from 1967 and 2007.

Overall, it can be seen that United Kingdom had a significant ratio of carbon dioxide emissions over the period, while Italy and Portugal accounted for lower carbon dioxide emissions at the start of the period, by the end they increased. In contrast, Sweden had greater ratio of emissions at the start, but later it decreased.

Looking at the details, United Kingdom was at around 11 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per person in 1967, which slightly fell throughout the period and reached 9mt in 2007, while Italy and Portugal was approximately 4mt and around 1mt in 1967, by the end, both climbed to around 8mt and 5mt respectively. In contrast, Sweden was around at 9mt per person in 1967, which increased in 1977 to 11mt; after that it declined sharply and reached 5mt in 2007.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all requirements of the task. You have successfully identified the main trends and made relevant comparisons between the four countries. The overview is clear and highlights the key differences in trajectories, such as the UK's decline versus the growth in Italy and Portugal. You have also included specific data points to support your descriptions. To reach a higher band, ensure that the distinction between 'ratio' and 'amount' is precise, as carbon emissions are measured in metric tonnes rather than ratios. Overall, the response is well-focused and provides a clear summary of the provided graph.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and a body paragraph detailing the trends. You use cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'while', and 'after that' to link ideas effectively. The progression of information is easy to follow. However, some transitions could be more sophisticated to improve the flow. For instance, the transition between the overview and the detailed body paragraph is a bit abrupt. Using more varied linking phrases would help move the response from a mechanical structure to a more fluid, cohesive piece of writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'metric tonnes', 'declined sharply', and 'climbed'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice. For example, you use 'ratio' when referring to the amount of emissions, which is technically incorrect in this context. Additionally, the phrasing 'United Kingdom was at around 11 metric tonnes' is slightly unnatural; it would be better to say 'emissions in the United Kingdom stood at...'. Expanding your range of reporting verbs and avoiding repetitive structures would help improve your score in this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are some grammatical slips, such as 'between from 1967 and 2007' (a redundant preposition) and 'Italy and Portugal was' (subject-verb agreement error, as it should be 'were'). You also have some punctuation issues, such as comma splices where full stops or semicolons would be more appropriate. Despite these errors, the grammar does not impede communication. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and refining the use of complex sentence structures to ensure they are error-free.

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

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