Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-07

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 below illustrates the average carbon dioxide emissions per person in the countries - United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal between the years 1967 and 2007.

It was recorded over the years ,that the highest carbon dioxide emissions were in the United Kingdom and the lowest in the Portugal.

In 1967, the carbon dioxide emissions were 1.5 metric tonnes in Portugal and had a gradual exponential incline to approximate 5.8 metric tonnes. For Italy, same pattern had been recorded with an incline in the numbers, in the years 1967 to 2007, where it started from 4.1 metric tonnes to approximate 7.8 tonnes.

However, for Sweden, a sharp increase followed by a steady downfall was recorded. It started from 8.5 metric tonnes in 1967, reached maximum at approximate 10.2 tonnes in the year 1977, after that had a decline in the amount and was now equal to the amount of emissions of Portugal in 2007.

The United Kingdom had the highest emissions for the years recorded. In 1967, it was approximate 10.8 tonnes which was over fivefolds higher then Portugal. Over the years, the emissions reduced to 8.5 metric tonnes in 2007.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all requirements of the task. You have identified the main trends and made relevant comparisons between the four countries. The overview is clear, and the data points are generally accurate. However, there is a slight inaccuracy in the description of Sweden's 2007 emissions; the graph shows Sweden's emissions at approximately 5.8 metric tonnes, not equal to Portugal's, which are also around 5.8. While you have selected key features, the analysis could be further enhanced by grouping the countries more effectively (e.g., those with declining trends versus those with increasing trends) to provide a more sophisticated overview of the data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a summary. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different trends. You use some cohesive devices such as 'However' and 'In 1967', which help the flow of information. To reach a higher band, ensure that referencing is more precise; for example, in the final paragraph, 'fivefolds' is slightly awkward, and the connection between the UK's reduction and the other countries could be smoother. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, such as 'exponential incline', 'steady downfall', and 'metric tonnes'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'fivefolds higher then' (should be 'five times higher than') and 'approximate 5.8' (should be 'approximately 5.8'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the information clearly, using a wider variety of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' would improve the lexical sophistication of the report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'the lowest in the Portugal' (unnecessary article) and 'same pattern had been recorded' (missing article). Additionally, punctuation is occasionally inconsistent, such as the comma placement in 'over the years ,that'. Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear throughout the text, and the errors do not impede communication. To improve, focus on article usage and ensuring subject-verb agreement in more complex sentences.

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