Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The graph compares the CO2 emissions in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal from year 1967 to 2007.
From the chart, we can observe that United Kingdom had the highest CO2 emissions and Portugal had the lowest emission of carbon dioxide in previous years.
Additionally, there is a decreasing trend of CO2 emission in United Kingdom and Sweden but a increasing trend in Portugal and Italy. By the end of 2007, we can find United Kingdom is still the largest and Sweden is the lowest CO2 emitting country.
The United Kingdom had around 11 metric tonnes of CO2 emitted in year 1967 which decreased and reached around 9 metric tonnes. Sweden had a gradual increase from 1977 and decrease overtime and reached the lowest in 2007. Italy is in increasing trend which increased from 4 to almost 8 in 40 years. Portugal was among the lowest but increased the most in 40 years with around 5 metric tonnes increase.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| 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 trends for each country. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For instance, the statement that the UK had the highest emissions in 'previous years' is vague, and the description of Sweden's trend as a 'gradual increase from 1977 and decrease overtime' lacks precision regarding the specific data points provided. While the key trends are identified, the comparison between countries could be more integrated. To reach a higher band, you should ensure that all data points mentioned are accurate and that the overview clearly highlights the most significant differences and similarities across the entire period.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is generally clear, moving from general trends to specific data. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'Additionally', 'From the chart'). There are also minor issues with referencing; for example, the phrase 'in previous years' is imprecise in the context of a 40-year timeline. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the transition between the overview and the supporting details could be smoother to improve the overall flow of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely on basic terms like 'highest', 'lowest', 'increasing', and 'decreasing'. While these are accurate, they do not demonstrate a wide range of lexical items. There are some minor inaccuracies in collocation, such as 'decrease overtime' (should be 'over time') and 'in increasing trend' (should be 'on an increasing trend'). To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', 'remained stable', or 'a significant decline'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that persist throughout the text, such as missing articles ('the United Kingdom', 'the lowest emission') and preposition errors ('in year 1967' should be 'in 1967'). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on the correct use of articles with country names and ensure consistent verb tense usage when describing historical data. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures would also help demonstrate better control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.