Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-06

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 line graph illustrates mean carbon dioxide excreted per person in four countries for the period between 1967 and 2007.

Overall, it is evident that United Kingdom and Sweden experience a fall in CO2 emission while Italy and Portugal rise from their initial levels.

United Kingdom records a slow gradual fall in emission levels, dropping from 11 tonnes in 1967 to around 9 tonnes in 2007. In contrast Sweden shows fluctuation as it shows rise for the first decade from 9 to somewhere above 10 tonnes. Following 1977 the figure plunges, eventually reaching around 6 tonnes in 2007.

Unlike others, Italy and Portugal had low CO2 emission in 1967. Both countries observed upwards trend for emission, while Italy plateaued around 8 tonnes after 1997, Portugal kept increasing steadily with a less steeper increase. Portugal touched its baseline near 5 tonnes which is equal to CO2 emitted by Sweden in 2007.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all four countries and the time period effectively. You have identified the main trends—the downward trajectory of the UK and Sweden versus the upward trend of Italy and Portugal—and provided relevant data points to support these observations. The overview is clear and sets the stage for the body paragraphs. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are accurate; for instance, stating that Portugal's baseline was 5 tonnes is slightly inaccurate based on the graph, which shows it starting closer to 1 tonne. Additionally, ensure you use precise terminology, as 'excreted' is biologically incorrect for carbon dioxide; 'emitted' or 'produced' would be appropriate.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group the countries by their trends. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Following 1977', and 'Unlike others' are used effectively to guide the reader through the comparisons. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the declining trends from the increasing ones. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the referencing is generally clear. To improve, ensure that the transition between sentences is always natural; some sentences feel slightly mechanical, but overall, the structure is coherent and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the trends, using terms like 'plunges', 'plateaued', and 'steadily'. However, there are some issues with word choice. The use of 'excreted' is incorrect in this context, as CO2 is emitted by human activity, not excreted by the body. Additionally, 'less steeper' is grammatically incorrect; 'less steep' is the correct comparative form. While you attempt some precise vocabulary, these errors in collocation and form prevent a higher score. Focusing on academic collocations and ensuring word choices are contextually appropriate will help elevate your lexical score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several minor grammatical errors, such as 'United Kingdom and Sweden experience a fall' (missing articles: 'The United Kingdom'), 'observed upwards trend' (missing article: 'an upward trend'), and 'less steeper' (incorrect comparative). Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear throughout, and the punctuation is generally accurate. To improve, pay closer attention to article usage and comparative adjectives. Increasing the variety of complex structures while maintaining accuracy would help you reach the next band level.

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.