Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-24

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 6.0)

The graph illustrates median carbon dioxide emissions per individual from the year 1967 to 2007 in the countries of United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal. Units are measured in metric tonnes.

From the graph. it is evident that carbon dioxide emissions from the people of Portugal and Italy has increased significantly from less than 2 metric tonnes to almost 6 metric tonnes and from little over 4 metric tonnes to almost reaching 8 metric tonnes a year. But it is evident from the graph that, afterwards emissions from both countries kind of stalled from the year 1997 to 2007.

On the other hand, carbon dioxide emissions from United Kingdom and Sweden have decreased over the years, later being much more significant. Emissions dropped from almost 11 metric tonnes to a little less than 9 metric tonnes in a year. But Sweden showed drastic results in carbon dioxide emissions. Firstly, emissions surged to over 10 metric tonnes from little less than 9 metric tonnes from 1967 to 1977 but dropped significantly to almost 7 metric tonnes in the year 1987 and even more from that year to 2007 resulting in less than 6 metric tonnes a year.

From this graph, we can certainly conclude that Sweden showed exceptional results in decreasing carbon dioxide emissions than other countries.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided relevant comparisons between the four countries. You covered the overall trajectory of emissions for each nation, noting the increases in Portugal and Italy and the decreases in the UK and Sweden. However, the report lacks a clear 'overview' paragraph that synthesizes the most significant trends at a glance. While you included data points, some descriptions are slightly imprecise (e.g., 'kind of stalled'). To reach a higher band, ensure you highlight the most striking differences, such as the UK starting as the highest emitter and Sweden's notable fluctuation, more explicitly in a dedicated overview.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, with each focusing on a specific group of countries. You use some cohesive devices like 'On the other hand' and 'Firstly' to guide the reader. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel abrupt. For instance, the transition between the discussion of Italy/Portugal and the UK/Sweden could be smoother. Additionally, the punctuation error in the second paragraph ('From the graph. it is evident') disrupts the flow. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring consistent paragraph structure will enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'illustrates', 'surged', and 'drastic results'. However, there is some repetition of basic phrasing such as 'from the graph' and 'metric tonnes'. Some word choices are slightly informal or imprecise, such as 'kind of stalled' and 'people of Portugal'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations to describe trends, such as 'plateaued', 'experienced a downward trend', or 'fluctuated significantly'. Your spelling is generally accurate, but the vocabulary range needs to be more sophisticated to reach the higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are several grammatical slips, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('emissions... has increased' should be 'have increased') and minor punctuation errors. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. You show an attempt at complex structures, but some are slightly awkward, such as 'later being much more significant'. Focusing on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and refining the use of relative clauses will help improve your accuracy and range.

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

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