Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-17

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 the average carbon emissions per head in the four European countries from 1967 to 2007.

Overall, emissions decreased in the United Kingdom and Sweden over the period, whereas Italy and Portugal experienced a substantial increase. The United Kingdom remained in first place despite a linear decline, while others changed their positions over time.

In 1967, the UK recorded the highest level of per capita emissions, at 11 metric tonnes, followed by Sweden, Italy, and Portugal, at 8, 4, and approximately 2 metric tonnes, respectively.

Significant changes occurred in per capita emissions across the four countries over the 40-year period. The UK showed a downward slope, but Sweden showed 8 at the start, but after 10 years, it made a sharp surge to 10, then declined by time and moved from second to third spot. Around 1990, Italy crossed Sweden in carbon output and increased gradually over time.

Portugal emerged as a country where carbon emissions increased over time, and around 2007, it was at the same level as Sweden, in third position.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. You selected key features, such as the UK's decline and the growth in Italy and Portugal, and supported these with accurate data points from 1967 and 2007. However, the description of Sweden's trend is slightly confusing; stating it 'made a sharp surge to 10' and then 'declined by time' is a bit vague. Additionally, the comparison regarding Italy crossing Sweden around 1990 is accurate, but the overall analysis could be more tightly integrated to ensure all key comparisons are highlighted effectively. Overall, you have covered all parts of the task well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that group information effectively. You use cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In 1967', and 'Around 1990' to guide the reader through the timeline. Paragraphing is appropriate, and there is a clear progression of ideas. However, some transitions between sentences could be smoother; for instance, the transition between the UK's decline and Sweden's fluctuation feels slightly abrupt. The use of referencing is generally clear, though the flow could be improved with more varied cohesive links to connect the trends of the four countries more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'substantial increase', 'linear decline', and 'per capita emissions' are used accurately. You attempt some less common vocabulary, such as 'surge' and 'emerged', which adds variety. However, there are some minor issues with collocation and precision, such as 'declined by time' (better: 'declined over time') and 'crossed Sweden' (better: 'surpassed Sweden'). While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, incorporating more sophisticated synonyms or precise descriptive verbs would elevate the score further.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the opening sentence and the comparative structures in the third paragraph. Most of your sentences are clear and error-free, which ensures that communication is never impeded. There are occasional minor grammatical slips, such as 'Sweden showed 8 at the start' (missing a unit or noun) and 'declined by time'. Punctuation is generally accurate. To reach a higher band, you should aim for a greater variety of complex structures, such as using more subordinate clauses or passive voice constructions to describe the data trends more formally.

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

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