Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-19

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 gives information about the average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per person in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal from 1967 to 2007. Units are measured in metric tonnes.

Overall, the average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of the the Italy and Portugal showed a steady but significant rise over the period, while the percentage of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the United Kingdom experienced a downward trend.

To begin with, regarding United Kingdom, the carbon dioxide emissions stayed around at 11 metric tonnes in 1967. After the next 20 years, emissions declined slightly to approximately 10 metric tonnes in 1987. Over the following 20 years, emissions decreased modestly to nearly 9 metric tonnes in 2007. Moving on to Sweden, carbon dioxide emissions stayed at around 8.6 metric tonnes in 1967. Over the next 10 years, emissions rocketed sharply around to 10.3 metric tonnes in 1977. After that, emissions dropped dramatically approximately to 7 metric tonnes in 1987. After the next 20 years, emissions dipped modestly to 5.3 metric tonnes in 2007.

Moving on to Italy, carbon dioxide emissions stayed at around 4.2 metric tonnes in 1967. Over the next 30 years, emissions increased steadily to reach around 7.8 metric tonnes in 1997. After that, the emissions remained stable at roughly 7.8 metric tonnes up to 2007. Finally, regarding Portugal, carbon dioxide emissions stayed at a low level of around 1.2 metric tonnes in 1967. Over the next 30 years, emissions grew continuously to reach approximately 5.3 metric tonnes in 1997. After that, the emissions leveled off and reached around 5.5 metric tonnes by 2007.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student covers all four countries and provides data points across the specified timeline, successfully identifying main trends. The overview captures the overall trajectories well, noting the upward trends for Italy and Portugal and the downward trend for the UK. However, the student incorrectly refers to the percentage of carbon dioxide rather than metric tonnes in the overview, and minor numerical inaccuracies appear, such as stating Sweden dropped to 5.3 metric tonnes in 2007 (chart reads ~5.4). Furthermore, Sweden's peak in 1977 and subsequent drop are detailed adequately. Overall, all parts of the task are addressed with good clarity, placing the response solidly in Band 7.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organised with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, and well-sequenced body paragraphs dedicated to different countries. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Moving on to', and 'After that' are used to guide the reader through the data, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate ideas cleanly. Reference links are generally clear, though occasional repetition of phrase structures ('carbon dioxide emissions stayed at...') slightly impacts the natural flow of cohesion. It meets the Band 7 criteria for clear logical organisation and progression.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary suitable for a Task 1 response, including terms such as 'steady but significant rise', 'downward trend', 'declined slightly', and 'rocketed sharply'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with some success. However, there are minor lexical inaccuracies, such as referring to emissions as a 'percentage' in the overview, and awkward phrasing like 'stayed around at' and 'dropped dramatically approximately to'. Despite these occasional errors, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the information clearly, earning a Band 6.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilising past tense structures effectively to describe historical trends. There is good control of basic grammar, and punctuation is generally accurate. However, minor grammatical awkwardness and errors occur, such as the double article 'of the the Italy' in the overview, missing prepositions, and slight prepositional placement errors like 'stayed around at' or 'around to'. These errors do not impede communication, allowing the response to comfortably achieve a Band 6.5.

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