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 graph illustrates average carbon dioxide emissions per person in the four different country such as the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal, measured by metric tones, over a 40 years period from 1967 to 2007.

Overall, it is clearly noticeable that the Italy and Portugal followed an upward trend over the period, while Sweden experienced a slight increase before declining significantly.

First of all, in 1967 Carbon dioxide emissions for Portugal was close to one metric tones and its followed a gradual increase of approximately 5 metric tones over the period. While, in 1967 almost 11 metric tones carbon dioxide was emitted by a person in the United kingdom. Moreover, it followed a gradual fall over the period and stay at around 9 metric tones in 2007.

Meanwhile, the Italy showed an upward trend from around 4 metric tones in 1967 to just under 9 metric tones in 2007. Besides, emissions for Sweden by a person was faced a slight increase before saw significant fall of just under 6 metric tones by 2007.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all requirements of the task. You have identified the main trends and provided data to support your descriptions. However, the overview is slightly underdeveloped; while you mention the upward trends and the decline for Sweden, you could improve by highlighting the most significant contrast, such as the fact that the UK was the highest emitter in 1967 but ended as one of the lowest. Additionally, there are some inaccuracies in data reporting, such as stating Portugal increased by 'approximately 5 metric tonnes' when the graph shows an increase from 1 to 5, which is an increase of 4. Precision is vital for Task 1.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices like 'Overall', 'First of all', and 'Meanwhile' to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by mechanical phrasing and awkward transitions. For instance, 'While, in 1967...' is a sentence fragment, and the use of 'Besides' to introduce the final point is slightly unnatural. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence flows smoothly into the next would help achieve a higher band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'upward trend', 'gradual increase', and 'emitted'. However, there are several errors in word choice and collocation that detract from the quality. For example, 'measured by metric tones' should be 'measured in metric tonnes', and 'emissions for Sweden by a person was faced' is grammatically awkward and imprecise. You also repeat 'metric tones' frequently. To improve, focus on using more varied reporting verbs and nouns, and ensure you are using the correct prepositions when describing data points.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'the Italy showed', 'emissions... was faced') and incorrect article usage (e.g., 'the Italy', 'the United kingdom'). There are also issues with sentence construction, such as the fragment 'While, in 1967 almost 11 metric tones carbon dioxide was emitted by a person in the United kingdom.' These errors are noticeable and occasionally impede the reader's flow, though the meaning remains clear throughout the report.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.