Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-23
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 compares the average CO2 emissions per person in four European countries namely United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal from 1967 to 2007. Units are measured in metric tonnes.
Overall, Italy and Portugal experienced a steady rise while the United Kingdom and Sweden saw a decrease in emissions despite Sweden's initial increase. The United Kingdom remained the largest emitter in all years.
In 1967, the United Kingdom had the highest emissions of well over 10 metric tonnes while Sweden had above 8 metric tonnes. Sweden experienced a peak over the decade up to 10 tonnes slightly overtaking the United Kingdom. After that both countries experienced a decline, the United Kingdom's figure fell to 9 tonnes and Sweden dropped more significantly to 5.5 metric tonnes.
In contrast, Portugal and Italy started with much lesser emissions. Italy began at slightly over 4 metric tonnes and Portugal at about 2 metric tonnes. Over the 4 decades there was a sharp increase, Portugal was about 8 tonnes and Italy well over 4 metric tonnes.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5
The student covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear overview and successfully reporting the main trends and data points. The response accurately notes that Italy and Portugal experienced an upward trend while the UK and Sweden saw overall decreases, and correctly identifies the UK as the highest emitter throughout. However, there are minor inaccuracies in the final paragraph regarding the specific ending figures, such as stating Portugal reached 'about 8 tonnes' in 2007 when the chart shows it was around 5.4 metric tonnes. Despite this factual slip, the key comparisons and general trends are appropriately presented, aligning well with the Band 7 descriptors.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The response is logically organised into four paragraphs: an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs separating the downward-trending countries from the upward-trending ones. Progression is clear throughout, and cohesive devices are used appropriately, such as 'Overall', 'In 1967', and 'In contrast'. Paragraphing is well-managed, grouping related information together coherently. Referencing is generally clear, though paragraph transitions could be slightly smoother. Overall, the organisational structure and logical flow meet the requirements for a Band 7 score.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
The vocabulary used is generally adequate and appropriate for an Academic Task 1 response, featuring suitable terms such as 'emissions', 'steady rise', 'significant decline', and 'peak'. Less common lexical items are attempted, such as 'largest emitter' and 'sharp increase'. However, there are some imprecise expressions and word choices, notably in the final sentence where Portugal's 2007 emissions are incorrectly stated as 'about 8 tonnes' rather than 5.4 metric tonnes, showing a minor limitation in data interpretation vocabulary. Spelling is accurate throughout. This performance fits comfortably within Band 6.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating subordinating clauses effectively (e.g., 'despite Sweden's initial increase' and 'while the United Kingdom and Sweden saw a decrease'). There are frequent error-free sentences, demonstrating good control over basic grammar and punctuation. Minor slips occur, such as the missing preposition or punctuation in 'namely United Kingdom' and occasional awkward phrasings, but these errors do not impede communication. The grammatical range and accuracy are indicative of a solid Band 7 performance.
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