Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-26
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 LINE GRAPH ILLUSTRATES THE AVERAGE CARBON DI OXIDE EMISSIONS PER INDIVIDUAL IN THE FOUR DIFFERENT NATIONS FROM 19687 TO 2007.
OVERALL , THE VISUAL DATA DEPICTS THAT UNITED KINGDOM OR SWEDEN RELEASED HIGHEST CARBON DI OXIDE . WHEREAS , PORTUGAL RECORDED THE LOWEST VALUE .
AFTER ANLAYZING THE GRAPH IT CAN BE SEEN THAT AT INITIAL STAGE UNITED KINGDOM RELEASE 11 TONNES CO2 IN 1967 AFTER THAT THEY FOLLOW THE PERIOD OF STABILITY WITH 10 TONNES IN 1987 AND 9 TONNES IN 2007.IN ADDITION , SWEDEN DISCHARGE 8 TONNES CO2 THEN RISE 2 TONNES IN 1977 AFTER THAT THEY SUDDENLY DECLINE 4 TONNES IN 1977 AND SHOWED A DOWNWARD TREND WITH 5 TONNES EMISSION IN 2007.
ON OTHER HAND , ITALY ALSO INCREASE 4 TO 6 TONNES OF CO2 EMISSION BETWEEN 1967 AND 1977 THEN THEY INTERSECTED THE SWEDEN IN YEAR 1987AND SHOWED A UPWARD TREND WITH 8 TONNES OF CARBON DIOXIDE . MOREOVER , PORTUGAL ONLY 1 TONNE EMISSION IN 1967 THEN THEY GROW UP NEXT 2 DECADES AND RELEASE 5 TONNES CO2 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 four countries and the time period, identifying key trends such as the decline in the UK and Sweden and the growth in Italy and Portugal. However, the overview is slightly inaccurate; for instance, the UK and Sweden did not consistently release the highest emissions throughout the entire period, as Italy's figures rose significantly. The data reporting is generally accurate, but the analysis lacks a clear comparison of the final figures in 2007, which would have strengthened the response. The summary is functional but could be more analytical by grouping the countries based on their trends (e.g., those that decreased versus those that increased).
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally awkward, such as 'After anlayzing the graph it can be seen that' and 'On other hand'. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when referring to 'they' (e.g., 'they intersected the Sweden'), which makes it difficult to track whether the subject is the country or the emission level. While the progression of ideas is logical, the lack of sophisticated linking words limits the flow of the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several spelling errors, such as 'anlayzing' and 'di oxide', and some word choice issues, such as 'discharge' (which is usually used for liquids or electricity rather than gas emissions) and 'grow up' (which is more appropriate for people). The range of vocabulary is limited to basic descriptors like 'rise', 'decline', and 'increase'. To achieve a higher band, you should incorporate more precise academic collocations and ensure accurate spelling of key terms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include missing articles (e.g., 'in year 1987'), incorrect verb tenses (e.g., 'United Kingdom release 11 tonnes'), and subject-verb agreement errors. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas and periods. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of basic grammatical slips prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage would significantly improve the quality of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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