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 following graph demonstrates average emission of carbon dioxide per individual in different countries such as United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal from the years 1967 to 2007 which is consistently changed around all these years.
According to the graph, there is gradual increase in carbon dioxide emission in Portugal while the release of carbon dioxide is gradually decreasing in United Kingdom. Meanwhile, the trend is completely different for Sweden and Italy
First thing that is illustrated by graph is there is gradual rise in carbon dioxide from 1967 to 2007 for the Portugal on the other hand, it is lessened for United kingdom because the plot of graph is in downward direction. The emission was high during 1967- 1977 and after that there is abrupt decrease in the emission of carbon dioxide in next years from 1987 to 2007.
In conclusion ,the overall plot of graph shows the range of variations among these 4
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to adequately address the task. While it identifies the general trends for Portugal and the UK, it completely ignores the data for Sweden and Italy, despite mentioning them in the introduction. The overview is missing, as the conclusion is incomplete and fails to synthesize the main features or significant trends. The description of the data is repetitive and lacks specific figures or comparative analysis, which is essential for an Academic Task 1 response. To improve, you must report on all categories provided in the graph and include a clear overview that highlights the most significant differences and similarities between the countries.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The introduction is followed by a body paragraph that attempts to describe trends but lacks clear cohesive devices to link ideas. The conclusion is abrupt and incomplete, failing to provide a summary of the information. Referencing is sometimes unclear, such as the phrase 'the trend is completely different for Sweden and Italy' which is never followed up. To improve, use linking words like 'in contrast', 'furthermore', or 'consequently' to connect your sentences and ensure each paragraph has a clear, focused topic.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. Phrases such as 'gradual increase', 'gradually decreasing', and 'gradual rise' are used repeatedly, which limits the range of expression. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'the plot of graph is in downward direction' and 'the release of carbon dioxide is gradually decreasing'. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey basic meaning but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band score. Focus on using more varied verbs and nouns to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'declined steadily', or 'remained stable'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include missing articles ('the graph', 'the United Kingdom'), incorrect prepositions ('in next years'), and awkward phrasing ('the following graph demonstrates average emission'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas and hyphens. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to distract the reader. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement, the correct use of articles, and standard punctuation rules.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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