Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-02
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 below illustrates the average carbon dioxide emissions in metric tonnes per person in 4 countries between 1967 and 2007.
The graph shows the highest carbon dioxide emissions in metric tonnes noted in 1977. Countries like United Kingdom and Sweden has seen decrease in carbon dioxide emissions. Whereas, countries like Italy and Portugal has seen an increasing trend in carbon dioxide emissions.
United kingdom saw a decreasing trend in carbon dioxide emission per person from 11 metric tonnes in 1967 to 9 metric tonnes in 2007. This same trend has been noticed in Sweden, with decrease in carbon emission from 9 metric tonnes to 5 metric tonnes from 1967 and 2007.
While, an opposite trend is visible in countries like Italy and Portugal. These countries saw significant increase in carbon dioxide emission from 1 metric tonnes and
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While you have identified the main trends for the four countries, the response is incomplete, cutting off abruptly at the end. Because the description of the data for Italy and Portugal is unfinished, you have not fully addressed all parts of the task. To improve, ensure you complete the analysis of all data points and provide a clear overview of the main features, as required by the task instructions.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the progression of ideas is hindered by the incomplete nature of the text. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Whereas' and 'While', but the abrupt ending makes the overall structure feel disjointed. To improve, ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus and that you use a wider variety of linking words to connect your comparisons more fluidly. The lack of a concluding summary also affects the overall coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have used some appropriate vocabulary related to the task, such as 'decreasing trend', 'increasing trend', and 'metric tonnes'. However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive. There are also minor errors in word choice and number agreement, such as '1 metric tonnes' (should be 'tonne') and 'United Kingdom and Sweden has seen' (should be 'have seen'). To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' and ensure you are using singular and plural forms correctly.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For example, subject-verb agreement issues like 'Sweden has seen' instead of 'have seen' and 'Italy and Portugal has seen' instead of 'have seen'. Additionally, there are punctuation and phrasing issues, such as 'from 1967 and 2007' (should be 'between 1967 and 2007'). To improve, focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and ensure consistent use of verb tenses when describing historical data.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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