Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-13
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 below illustrates the person released carbon dioxide (CO2) in four European countries between 1967 and 2007.
Overall, the people of the UK released large amount of carbon dioxide. And Italy and Portugal were emission this gas in low amount and then, it's graph increased in 1977. And Sweden first increased and after some year it's line declined.
First of all, we discuss about the carbon dioxide emission per person in UK. The carbon emissions 11 metric tonnes in 1967. First, it was increased and after 2 year, it's graph sharply decreased. In 2007, it was only 9 tonnes emission carbon dioxide per person.
Secondly, we discuss about the two European countries such as the Italy and Portugal. In contrast that, the carbon emissions in these countries were only 2 tonnes difference. Moreover, it was increased in 1977 to 1997. The Italy was 7 tonnes and Portugal was 5 tonnes in 2007.
Furthermore, the carbon dioxide released only 7 tonnes per head in Sweden in 1967. And it was rose in 1977 and then it was sharply decreased in 1987 to 1997. Moreover, it's line graph stable and released 5 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, such as the overall downward trend for the UK and Sweden and the upward trend for Italy and Portugal. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial and lacks precision. For example, the description of the UK's trend as 'sharply decreased' after two years is inaccurate based on the provided data. The report would benefit from more careful selection of data points to highlight the key differences between the countries. While the main trends are identified, the lack of accurate data reporting and the somewhat disjointed presentation of figures limit the score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inappropriate. Phrases like 'First of all, we discuss about' and 'Secondly, we discuss about' are informal and repetitive, functioning more like a spoken presentation than an academic report. The logical flow between sentences is sometimes hindered by awkward phrasing, such as 'In contrast that', which does not clearly signal a comparison. While there is an overall structure, the progression of ideas is not always smooth.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The range of vocabulary is limited and often inaccurate. There are frequent errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'person released carbon dioxide' instead of 'carbon dioxide emissions per person' and 'it's graph increased'. The student relies on basic verbs like 'increased', 'decreased', and 'rose', with little variation. Some phrasing is non-standard, such as 'emission this gas in low amount'. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise terminology related to data description and improving their grasp of noun-verb collocations.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are persistent issues with subject-verb agreement ('it's line graph stable'), article usage, and sentence structure. Many sentences are simple or contain structural errors, such as 'The carbon emissions 11 metric tonnes in 1967', which lacks a verb. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the response from reaching a higher band. A greater focus on sentence construction and proofreading for basic errors is required.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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