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 graph illustrates average amount of carbon dioxide released per person in four countries between 1967 and 2007.
Overall, the United Kingdom recorded the highest emissions while the Portugal had the least amount of carbon dioxide released over the period. The gap between the two categories was quite noticeable.
Initially, Portugal recorded 1 metric tone, this figures increased gradually to around 3 metric tones in 1987 and nearly 5 metric tones by the end of the period. Similarly, Italy had slightly above 4 metric tones 1967. The values went up slowly to slightly above 6 metric tones in 1997 and around 7 metric tones in 1987 accordingly. Between 1997 and 2007, the curve remained relatively stable with a figure slightly below 8 metric tones.
On the other hand, Sweden showed a downward trend with figures dropping from around 11 metric tones in 1967 to a value slightly above 8 metric tones in 2007. The united kingdom rose from a figure close to 9 metric tones in 1967 to slightly above 10 metric tones over a decade. After that, the values decreased to around 7 metric tones in 1987 and by 2007, the values were close to 5 metric tones.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response provides a clear overview of the main trends and selects relevant data points to support the summary. You successfully identified the contrasting trends between the countries, such as the downward trajectory of Sweden and the United Kingdom versus the growth in Portugal and Italy. However, there are some inaccuracies in the data reporting. For instance, you mentioned Italy reached 7 metric tonnes in 1987, but the graph shows this occurred later. Additionally, the description of the UK's trend contains some confusion regarding the timeline and specific values. To reach a higher band, ensure that data points are transcribed with greater precision and that the chronological progression is clearly maintained throughout the report.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on different groupings of countries. Cohesive devices such as 'Similarly', 'On the other hand', and 'After that' are used to link ideas effectively. However, the progression within the second body paragraph is slightly disjointed due to the confusing timeline mentioned regarding the UK. While the overall structure is coherent, the referencing could be more precise to ensure the reader follows the data trends without needing to re-read sentences to clarify the sequence of events.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information clearly, using terms like 'downward trend', 'gradually', and 'relatively stable'. There are some minor errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'tone' instead of 'tonne' and 'the Portugal' instead of 'Portugal'. While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the response from reaching a higher band. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and ensure consistent spelling of technical units. Incorporating a slightly wider variety of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' would also enhance the lexical quality of your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical slips, such as 'this figures increased' (should be 'these figures') and 'the United Kingdom rose... over a decade' (which is factually confusing given the context). Punctuation is generally adequate, but there are occasional errors in article usage and subject-verb agreement. While the meaning is always clear, the frequency of these minor errors suggests that a band 6.0 is appropriate. Focusing on proofreading for basic agreement and tense consistency will help you achieve more error-free sentences.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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