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)

This paragraph deals about the average carbon dioxide(CO2)

emitting per person in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal between 1967 and 2007.

Firstly, coming to United kingdom, it's stats had come down in between 1967 to 2007 . In 1967, the emission of carbon dioxide in metric tonnes had come down from 11 to 9.

Secondly, Sweden, it had shown a spike of hike in emission of carbon dioxide between 1967 and 1977, and then suddenly it had a depression in its stats , falling from nearly 10 to 5 metric tonnes .

Thirdly, looking at Italy, there was a huge increase in the emission of carbon dioxide from nearly 4 to almost 8 , from 1967 to 2007.

Finally , coming to Portugal, it was also similar to Italy because since 1967 , the emission of carbon di oxide in metric tonnes had been increasing from nearly 2 to almost 6 . At 2007 , Italy reached almost emission of 6 metric tonnes

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all four countries and identifies the main trends. However, the overview is missing, which is a critical requirement for Task 1. The summary of data is somewhat mechanical, listing each country individually without effectively synthesizing the information or highlighting the most significant comparisons, such as the contrast between the declining trends in the UK and Sweden versus the growth in Italy and Portugal. To improve, you should include a clear introductory overview that summarizes the overall patterns across the period, rather than just describing each country in isolation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is repetitive and somewhat mechanical (e.g., 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'Thirdly', 'Finally'). The flow between sentences is occasionally disjointed, and the referencing is sometimes unclear, such as the final sentence which mentions Italy again without a clear logical connection to the previous point about Portugal. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that comparisons are integrated more smoothly would enhance the logical progression of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and sophistication. You rely on informal or inaccurate phrasing such as 'spike of hike', 'depression in its stats', and 'emitting per person'. These choices do not accurately reflect the data trends. To reach a higher band, you should use more precise academic vocabulary related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', 'declined steadily', or 'upward trend'. There are also minor errors in word formation, such as 'carbon di oxide' which should be written as one word.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'This paragraph deals about' (should be 'deals with'), 'it's stats' (should be 'its'), and 'At 2007' (should be 'In 2007'). The sentence structure is often repetitive, relying heavily on 'it had' or 'there was'. While the meaning remains clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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