Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-03
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 the average carbon dioxide emissions per individual of Europian countries like Britain , Sweden , Italy and Portugal from 1967 to 2007.
Overall , graph gives us the information that the emissions of carbon dioxide is declining in United kingdom and Sweden but in first decade emissions of carbon dioxide in Sweden increases then it is moving downward. Furthermore in Italy and Portugal it rises through out the years.
First of all graph shows that the average emissions of carbon dioxide in UK was almost 11 percent in 1967 but after 1967 it declines to approximately 8.5 percent . But in case of Sweden the average percentage rises from 8 percent to 10.2 then it shows fall till 2007 which is about 5.5 percent. Furthermore in Italy and Portugal average percentage per person was 1.5 and 4 in 1967 but it keeps rising from 1967 to 2007 respectively. Now in 2007 it is about 5.5 and 7.8 respectively.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the graph, identifying the downward trends for the UK and Sweden and the upward trends for Italy and Portugal. However, the data reporting is inaccurate. For instance, you describe the UK emissions as '11 percent' and '8.5 percent', whereas the graph measures metric tonnes per person. Furthermore, the description of the trends is somewhat simplistic. To reach a higher band, ensure that data points are accurately transcribed and that the overview highlights the most significant differences, such as the UK's overall decline compared to the steady growth in Italy and Portugal, rather than just listing individual country movements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'First of all', and 'In case of' are used to link ideas. However, the progression is occasionally mechanical, and the referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when discussing the data for Italy and Portugal. The use of 'respectively' at the end of the final sentence is a good attempt at cohesion, but the preceding sentence structure makes the comparison slightly confusing. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision required for higher bands. You rely on basic verbs like 'rises', 'declines', and 'moving downward'. There are also some spelling errors, such as 'Europian' instead of 'European', and minor collocation issues, such as using 'percent' instead of 'metric tonnes'. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', 'remained stable', or 'a significant decrease'. Using a wider range of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' will help demonstrate a more flexible command of the language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'emissions of carbon dioxide is declining' (subject-verb agreement) and 'in first decade emissions... increases' (missing articles and tense inconsistency). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. While you attempt complex sentences, the frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Proofreading for these small slips would significantly improve the accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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