Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The graph elaborates the information about carbon dioxide emissions per person in many countries like United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal between the years 1967 to 2007.
Overall, the graph gives information about different countries but the highest carbon dioxide emissions per person was in United Kingdom in 1967 and 2007 and lowest in Portugal in 1967 and 2007.
Firstly, the carbon dioxide emissions in United Kingdom in 1967 was on the highest level and lowest in Portugal. The emissions in United Kingdom gradually decreased during upcoming years between 1967 to 2007 and lowest in 2007 between these years the carbon dioxide emissions decreased gradually. On the other hand the carbon dioxide emissions in Portugal was at minimum level in 1967 but between the years 1967 to 2007 the emissions per person gradually increased to the maximum in 2007.
Secondly, in Sweden and Italy the carbon emissions per person were at minimum level but with passing years between 1967 to 2007 the emissions in Sweden suddenly raised and suddenly drop in 1977 after on it gradually decreased with passing years in 2007. On the other side carbon emissions in Italy in 1967 was low but with passage of years carbon emissions raised gradually and are at peak level in 2007.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all countries mentioned in the graph and identifies key trends. However, the summary is somewhat inaccurate; for instance, stating the UK had the highest emissions in 2007 is incorrect based on the provided data, as Italy and Sweden also show significant figures. The overview is present but lacks a clear, analytical synthesis of the main trends. Some descriptions of the data are repetitive and lack precision, such as the vague use of 'minimum level' and 'maximum level' without referencing specific data points or units. To improve, ensure that data points are accurately interpreted and that the overview highlights the most significant differences and similarities rather than just listing countries.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'On the other hand'). There are issues with logical progression; for example, the transition between the description of the UK and Portugal is abrupt. Referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when discussing the trends in Sweden and Italy, where the sequence of events is difficult to follow due to awkward phrasing. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, unified focus would enhance the overall flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There is a reliance on basic descriptors such as 'highest', 'lowest', 'raised', and 'dropped'. Some collocations are unnatural, such as 'suddenly raised' and 'with passing years'. There is also some repetition of phrases like 'carbon dioxide emissions per person'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more varied and precise vocabulary related to trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', 'declined steadily', or 'remained stable', and avoid repeating the same sentence structures.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Subject-verb agreement issues are common, such as 'emissions... was' and 'emissions... raised'. There are also issues with article usage (e.g., 'in United Kingdom') and prepositional phrases. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to distract the reader. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and the correct use of definite articles with country names. Additionally, try to vary your sentence structure by using more complex clauses to describe the trends.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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