Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-24
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 7.5)
The graph shows the average carbon dioxide emissions per person in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal between 1967 and 2007.
Overall, the United Kingdom had the highest CO₂ emissions throughout the period, although its figure gradually decreased. In contrast, Portugal had the lowest emissions at the beginning but experienced a significant increase. Sweden also decreased after reaching a peak, while Italy showed a steady rise.
In 1967, the UK produced about 10.8 metric tonnes of CO₂ per person, compared with 8.7 tonnes in Sweden. Italy and Portugal had much lower figures, at around 4.2 and 1.2 tonnes respectively. By 1977, Sweden had risen to just over 10 tonnes, while the UK remained at about 10.7 tonnes. Italy also increased to approximately 6.3 tonnes.
From 1987 onwards, emissions in Sweden fell steadily, reaching about 5.5 tonnes in 2007. The UK also declined gradually to around 8.8 tonnes. Meanwhile, Italy rose to about 7.6 tonnes and remained stable until 2007. Portugal increased considerably, reaching about 5.4 tonnes by the end of the period.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5
The student has successfully addressed all parts of the task by providing a clear summary of the main features and making appropriate comparisons throughout the period. The overview effectively captures the primary trends, such as the UK having the highest emissions and Portugal experiencing significant growth. Key data points are accurately cited, such as the UK starting at 10.8 metric tonnes in 1967 and Portugal reaching 5.4 tonnes by 2007. The figures provided closely align with the visual data reference without any notable misinterpretations or invented information. The response is well-structured and fully satisfies the requirements for an academic Task 1 response, earning a solid band score.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5
The text demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression from the introduction through the overview to the detailed body paragraphs. Information and data are logically sequenced by time periods, making the trends easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'while', and 'Meanwhile' are used accurately and flexibly to contrast and connect the countries' emissions trends. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph serving a distinct function in presenting the data. Referencing is clear throughout, contributing to a smooth reading experience that aligns well with the criteria for a band 7.5 to 8.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.5
The student demonstrates a sufficient and precise range of vocabulary suitable for an academic report. Phrases such as 'gradually decreased', 'significant increase', 'reach a peak', and 'remained stable' show a good awareness of style and collocation in describing graphical data. There are no noticeable spelling or word-choice errors, and less common lexical items like 'metric tonnes' and 'respectively' are handled accurately. While the vocabulary is not excessively complex, it is used naturally and effectively to convey the statistical information without impeding communication, easily meeting the expectations for a band 7.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5
The response features a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as concessive clauses ('although its figure gradually decreased') and participial phrases ('reaching about 5.5 tonnes in 2007'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and grammatical control is strong throughout the text. Punctuation is used correctly to separate clauses and list data points accurately. Minor errors are virtually absent, and the grammatical range allows the student to communicate complex comparisons and temporal shifts fluently and accurately, matching the descriptors for a band 8.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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