Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

The graph illustrates the average carbon dioxide emissions per person in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, and Portugal from 1967 to 2007.

Overall, Portugal consistently had the lowest emissions throughout this 40-year period, while the United Kingdom recorded the highest levels. Additionally, Sweden experienced a significant decline in emissions after the first decade, particularly notable after 1977. In contrast, Italy's emissions plateaued during the final ten years, showing no significant change.

Focusing on Portugal, it maintained the lowest carbon dioxide output among the four countries, with its emissions remaining stable over the years. By 2007, Portugal's emission levels were nearly matched by Sweden, which indicates a remarkable improvement in Sweden's emissions reduction efforts. The United Kingdom, however, consistently had the highest emissions from 1967 through 2007, demonstrating a steady trend with little fluctuation over time. Meanwhile, Italy saw a steady increase in emissions during the first 30 years, but this growth stagnated in the last decade, indicating a shift in its carbon output patterns.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively identifies the main trends and provides a clear overview of the data. You have successfully selected key features, such as the UK's consistently high emissions and the significant decline in Sweden's output. The comparisons between countries are relevant and well-integrated. However, to reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are accurate; for instance, the graph shows that Sweden's emissions actually increased between 1967 and 1977 before declining, whereas your text suggests a decline after the first decade. More precise referencing of the data points (e.g., specific years or approximate values) would further strengthen the analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, and a body paragraph detailing specific trends. The progression of ideas is smooth, and you make good use of cohesive devices such as 'In contrast,' 'Meanwhile,' and 'However' to signal shifts in focus. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the general summary from the detailed analysis. The flow is natural, and the relationship between the ideas is easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report, using terms like 'plateaued,' 'stagnated,' and 'fluctuation' accurately. The language is precise and conveys the information clearly. There is a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow for flexibility and precision. To improve, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or varied ways to describe trends, such as 'a downward trajectory' or 'a marginal increase,' to enhance the academic tone further.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response displays a good command of grammatical structures. You use a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as the participial phrase 'demonstrating a steady trend with little fluctuation.' The punctuation is accurate, and the sentences are generally error-free. The control over grammar is consistent, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. To aim for a higher band, you could experiment with more complex sentence structures, such as using passive voice or conditional clauses to describe the data trends.

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

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