Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-16

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 7.0)

The line graph compares the average CO₂ emissions per person in four countries between 1967 and 2007.

Overall, the United Kingdom had the highest level of CO₂ emissions per person whereas, Portugal recorded the lowest level. Sweden's figure declined considerably and was almost at the same level as Portugal's.

In 1967, approximately 11 metric tonnes of carbon di-oxide was released per individual in the United Kingdom, compared with around 8 metric tonnes in Sweden. The figures for Italy and Portugal were lower at about 4 metric tonnes and 1 metric tonnes respectively. UK then experienced a gradual decline throughout the period reaching roughly 9 metric tonnes per person in 2007.

Sweden gradually increased at the beginning of the period, from approximately 9 metric tonnes to almost 10 metric tonnes, reaching a peak and then sharply declining to around 5 metric tonnes in 2007, almost matching Portugal's figure. Italy witnessed a significant growth, rising from around 4 metric tonnes per person in 1967 to just over 7 metric tonnes in 2007. Although Portugal's CO₂ emisions followed an upward trend over the period, they remained the lowest among the four countries.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively 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, highlighting the contrast between the UK's high emissions and Portugal's lower levels, as well as the notable decline in Sweden. You have selected key data points to support your descriptions, such as the starting and ending figures for each country. The information is accurate and well-summarised, providing a clear picture of the graph's data without unnecessary detail. This meets the criteria for a high band score as it provides a comprehensive and accurate overview of the provided information.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organised, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group information effectively by country trends. Cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'compared with', 'although', and 'throughout the period' are used appropriately to link ideas. Paragraphing is used skilfully to separate the general overview from the specific data analysis. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the referencing is clear throughout the text. There is a logical flow from the initial state in 1967 to the final state in 2007, making the information easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report, such as 'considerably', 'gradual decline', 'witnessed a significant growth', and 'upward trend'. The terminology related to the graph (e.g., 'metric tonnes', 'per person') is used accurately. There are minor slips, such as 'carbon di-oxide' (should be 'carbon dioxide') and 'emisions' (spelling error). However, these do not impede communication. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' to show greater flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. You have good control over grammar and punctuation, with most sentences being error-free. There are a few minor slips, such as 'UK then experienced' (should be 'The UK then experienced') and '1 metric tonnes' (should be '1 metric tonne'). These are non-systematic errors that do not affect the clarity of your writing. The use of comparative structures is accurate, and the tense usage is consistent with the historical data provided in the graph.

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

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