Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-18
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 graph illustrates the results of average carbon dioxide emissions per person in the United Kingdom,Sweden,Italy and Portugal between 1967 and 2007.
Overall,the carbon dioxide emissions increased in Portugal from 1967 and it lasted till end of 2007.While carbon dioxide emissions increased in Italy,from 4 metric tonnes till 8, which is a very high increase of carbon dioxide emission.
The best thing I have seen is that carbon dioxide emission decreased in Sweden from 8 metric tonnes to 5.5.And,in United Kingdom carbon dioxide emissions also reduced from 11 to 9.5,which is a very good thing for the environment and the people.Both Sweden and United Kingdom worked a lot to reduce the emissions.But as we can see the emissions took a spike in Sweden in 1977 but it gradually reduces overtime.
At last, the emissions increased in Portugal and Italy from 1967 to 2007 , whereas the emissions reduced in Sweden and United Kingdom
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response provides a basic overview of the trends, but it fails to fully address the task requirements. While it identifies the general direction of the data, it lacks a clear, analytical approach. The description of the data is somewhat repetitive and lacks precision; for instance, it mentions 'a very high increase' without providing a clear comparison of the starting and ending points for all countries. Furthermore, the inclusion of subjective commentary, such as 'The best thing I have seen' and 'which is a very good thing for the environment', is inappropriate for an Academic Task 1 report, which requires an objective, neutral tone.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is somewhat disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is limited and occasionally mechanical, such as the repetitive use of 'And' and 'But' at the start of sentences. The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is abrupt. The final paragraph essentially repeats information already stated, which does not contribute to the logical flow of the report. Improved use of linking words and a more structured approach to comparing the data would enhance the coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary range is limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'increased', 'reduced', and 'very high' are used frequently. There is a lack of variety in reporting verbs and nouns, which makes the writing feel simplistic. Additionally, there are some issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'lasted till end of 2007' and 'took a spike'. To achieve a higher band score, you should incorporate more precise vocabulary related to data trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', 'declined steadily', or 'remained constant'. The current vocabulary is just adequate to convey the basic meaning.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. While there are some attempts at complex sentences, they are often marred by punctuation errors, such as missing spaces after commas (e.g., 'Overall,the', 'United Kingdom,Sweden,Italy'). There are also errors in article usage and prepositional phrases, such as 'at end of 2007' and 'reduced overtime'. The control of grammar is inconsistent, and while the meaning is generally clear, the frequent minor errors and the lack of a wider range of complex structures limit the score. Focusing on sentence variety and proofreading for punctuation would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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