Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-30

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 6.5)

The line graph illustrates about the emissions of carbon dioxide by per person in United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal from 1967 to 2007.

Overall, Italy sharply rose the average of CO2 emissions followed by Portugal, while United Kingdom faced a drastic fall. Sweden had fluctuations and had a fall.

In 1967, United Kingdom stood at the highest in emission of CO2, which at 11 metric tonnes and it had a drastic fall from 1977 and reached at 8 metric tonnes in 2007. Sweden showed a gradual rise in 1977 and followed the downward trend till 2007 accounted at almost 5 metric tonnes.

Italy began at roughly 4 metric tonnes in 1967 and although it fluctuated slightly in 1987, it grew moderately to just nearly 8 metric tonnes. In contrast, Portugal started with lowest emissions of CO2 in 1967 at 1 metric tonnes, after a moderate rise in early years, it remained stable after 1987, reaching nearly 5 metric tonnes, in 2007, almost same as Sweden.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all parts of the task by identifying the main trends for all four countries. You successfully highlighted the contrasting movements, such as the decline in the UK and the growth in Italy. However, the overview is slightly mechanical. To reach a higher band, ensure the overview synthesizes the data more effectively rather than just listing individual country trends. For example, noting the convergence of Sweden and Portugal by the end of the period would have strengthened the analysis. The data points are generally accurate, though some descriptions of the trends could be more precise to better reflect the visual information provided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the countries. Cohesive devices are present, such as 'In contrast' and 'Overall', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly repetitive or mechanical. For instance, the use of 'and' to connect clauses is frequent. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that referencing (e.g., 'it', 'this') is always clear to avoid ambiguity. The progression of ideas is generally logical and easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fluctuated', 'drastic fall', and 'metric tonnes'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'illustrates about' (should be 'illustrates') and 'Italy sharply rose the average' (the country did not rise the average; the emissions rose). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. Focusing on more precise reporting verbs and collocations related to data trends will help improve your score in this area.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'by per person' (redundant), 'reached at 8 metric tonnes' (should be 'reached 8 metric tonnes'), and 'accounted at almost 5' (should be 'accounted for'). These errors do not impede communication, but they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on verb patterns and preposition usage. Increasing the variety of complex structures, such as using participle clauses or relative clauses more effectively, would also enhance your grammatical range.

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

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