Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-01

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 6.0)

The line chart illustrates the typical carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per head in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal from 1967 to 2007. Units are measured in tonnes.

Overall, it is clear that carbon emissions in countries like the United Kingdom and Sweden had noticeably declined throughout the period of time. In contrast, CO2 emissions substantially increased in Italy and Portugal.

Between the years 1967 and 1987, Italy's average carbon emissions rose considerably, with a slight increase in 1977 of around 6 tonnes. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom's initial metric was over 10 tonnes, which was the highest of other countries, and fell dramatically by the end period.

The CO2 output for Portugal grew significantly, starting from a tonne and reaching approximately 5 tonnes, Whereas, Swedan's figure sharply rocketed over 10 tonnes in 1977; however, it plunged dramatically. From the year 1997 to 2007, the average CO2 emissions of Portugal and Sweden converged in 2007 at more than 5 tonnes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. You selected key features, such as the decline in UK and Swedish emissions and the growth in Italy and Portugal. However, the report lacks precision in some areas. For instance, stating that Sweden's figure 'rocketed over 10 tonnes in 1977' is slightly inaccurate based on the visual data, and the description of the convergence in 2007 could be more specific regarding the exact values. To reach a higher band, ensure that data points are cited more accurately and that comparisons between countries are more consistently integrated throughout the body paragraphs.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and two body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile', 'In contrast', and 'However' to link ideas effectively. The progression of information is generally smooth, though the transition between the description of the UK and Sweden in the final paragraph feels slightly abrupt. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different trends. To improve, ensure that the connection between sentences is always logical and that referencing (e.g., 'the end period') is clear and precise.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'substantially increased', 'fell dramatically', and 'converged' are well-chosen and appropriate for an academic report. There is a minor spelling error ('Swedan's') and some slightly awkward phrasing, such as 'initial metric'. While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, incorporating more precise academic collocations or a wider variety of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' would help elevate the response to a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'Between the years 1967 and 1987, Italy's average carbon emissions rose considerably'. While most sentences are clear, there are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'the highest of other countries' (which should be 'the highest of all the countries') and 'Whereas, Swedan's figure' (where the capitalization and punctuation are slightly off). These errors do not impede communication, but they prevent the writing from being considered fully error-free. Focusing on consistent subject-verb agreement and punctuation will improve your accuracy.

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