Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-20

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 7.5)

The graph below illustrates the average C02 emissions per person in three different countries, The United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal from 1967 and 2007

Overall, carbon dioxide emission per person decreased in the United Kingdom and Sweden, while they increased in Italy and Portugal. The UK had the highest level of emissions for most of the period, whereas Portugal recorded the lowest figures at the beginning.

In 1967, the UK produced about 11 tonnes of CO2 per person, which was considerably higher than Sweden at around 8.5 tonnes. Italy and Portugal had much lower figures, at approximately 4 and 1.5 tonnes respectively. UK emissions remained relatively high until 1977 before gradually falling to about 9 tonnes in 2007. Sweden, in contrast, reached a peak of around 10 tonnes in 1977, but its emissions then declined significantly to approximately 5.5 tonnes by 2007.

Italy and Portugal followed an opposite trend. Italy's emissions increased steadily from about 4 tonnes in 1967 to almost 8 tonnes in 2007. Portugal also experienced a continuous rise, reaching approximately 5.5 tonnes by the end of the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively addresses the task by identifying the main trends and making relevant comparisons. You clearly distinguished between the countries that saw a decrease (UK and Sweden) and those that saw an increase (Italy and Portugal). The key features, such as the UK's initial high levels and the convergence of trends, are well-highlighted. The data is accurately reported, and the overview provides a concise summary of the overall patterns. To reach a higher band, ensure that you consistently include all data points mentioned in the prompt; you correctly identified all four countries, and your selection of data points to support the trends is logical and sufficient.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group the countries by their respective trends. Cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'in contrast', and 'also' are used effectively to link ideas and compare the data. The progression of information is smooth, moving from the general overview to specific data points in the body paragraphs. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different trends, making the information easy to follow. The referencing is clear throughout, and the structure supports the reader's understanding of the graph's progression over time.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report, using terms like 'considerably higher', 'remained relatively high', 'declined significantly', and 'continuous rise'. The word choice is generally precise and fits the context of describing trends in a graph. There is a minor error in the introduction where 'C02' is written with a zero instead of the letter 'O', but this is a minor slip. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the information clearly and with some flexibility, allowing for a natural flow of description throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response uses a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences with subordinate clauses (e.g., 'while they increased in Italy and Portugal', 'which was considerably higher than Sweden'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and the grammar is well-controlled. Punctuation is generally accurate, although there is a minor punctuation error in the first sentence where a comma is used instead of a period or semicolon to separate the list of countries. These are minor, non-systematic errors that do not impede communication. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the text.

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