Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-04

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 provided linear representation demonstrates how many metric tonnes of carbon dioxide were released by an individual of the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Potugal from 1967 to 2007.

To begin with, in 1967, the highest amount of carbon emmisions per person was noted to be 11 metric tonnes in the United Kingdom. Although this figure decreased gradually after every decade and remained 9 metric tonnes onlyin 2007, UK was still on top position. By contrast, every portugese person emitted the least amount of CO2 throughout the period even though, the figure increased from 1 metric tonnes in 1967 to 5.5 metric tonnes in 2007.

Furthermore, commencing from 4.2metric tonnes in 1967, the average carbon emissions per person in Italy firstly soared drastically to 7.5 metric tonnes in 1997 and then, remained stable till 2007. Lastly, the figure was recorded as 8.5 metric tonnes in former year in the case of Sweden which grew rapidly to 10 metric tonnes in 1977 before dropping down significantly to 5.5 metric tonnes in 2007.

Overall, while the carbon emission in Portugal and Italy increased, there was a drop in the case of other countries.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. You covered all four countries and highlighted key features, such as the UK's overall decline and Portugal's steady increase. However, the analysis could be improved by making more direct comparisons between the countries at specific points in time, rather than just describing each country in isolation. For example, noting that Sweden's emissions overtook the UK's briefly in the 1970s would have added depth. The summary is accurate, but ensure that all data points are clearly linked to the years provided to avoid any ambiguity.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a summary. You used cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'Overall' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For instance, the transition between the UK and Portugal in the second paragraph is a bit abrupt. Additionally, ensure that referencing is precise; in the third paragraph, the phrase 'in former year' is slightly confusing and could be replaced with a more specific time reference to improve clarity.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly, using terms like 'linear representation', 'soared drastically', and 'remained stable'. There are some minor spelling errors, such as 'emmisions' and 'potugese', and a few instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'onlyin'. While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, the precision could be improved. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and ensure that your spelling is accurate throughout the text, as these small errors slightly detract from the overall professional tone of the report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'remained 9 metric tonnes onlyin 2007' and 'every portugese person emitted', which should be 'each person in Portugal'. Additionally, there are minor punctuation and spacing issues, such as '4.2metric'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent spacing will help improve the accuracy of your writing significantly.

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

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