Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-25

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 6.0)

This graph demonstrates the average carbon dioxide emissions per person in the given 4 countries in-between 1967 up until 2007.

Overall, there can be seen a significant drop in the United Kingdom's average carbon dioxide emissions per person. However, Portugal started from the very bottom and the rest of the two countries CO2 emissions fluctuated over time.

The CO2 emission in The United Kingdom started at a very high metric tonnes of 10.5% in the year 1967 that went down in a gradual manner to 9% in 2007. Sweden can be seen starting at 8.5% in 1967 which went up to 10.2% in 1977 and had a significant drop to 5.5% in 2007.

Italy and Portugal started with a difference of 3.1% emissions per individual in 1967, where Italy was taking the lead. Therefore, Italy rose to 7.8% by the end in 2007. Whereas, Portugal had some slow progress and increased till 5.5% matching the percentage of Sweden.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The student covers all four countries and provides data points across the 40-year timeframe, successfully addressing the main features of the task. An overview is present, noting the UK's downward trend and Portugal's rise from the bottom, although it is somewhat brief. There are some minor inaccuracies in the data reported (for instance, stating the UK started at '10.5%' instead of metric tonnes, and using percentages incorrectly throughout the text, as the chart measures metric tonnes). However, the overall trends and comparisons are generally accurate and sufficient to meet the requirements of Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response is arranged into a logical structure with an introduction, an overview paragraph, and two body paragraphs covering the specific countries. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Overall', 'However', 'Therefore', and 'Whereas'. However, some of these transitions feel slightly unnatural or mechanically applied, such as starting a sentence with 'Therefore' when no logical cause-and-effect relationship has been established. Paragraphing is adequate, but referencing and logical progression could be smoother to reach a higher band.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student attempts a range of vocabulary appropriate for a task 1 response, using terms like 'significant drop', 'gradual manner', and 'fluctuated'. However, there is a persistent misuse of units—the student repeatedly refers to metric tonnes as percentages (e.g., '10.5%', '8.5%'), which is a notable lexical and task achievement inaccuracy. Less common vocabulary is attempted with mixed success. Word choice is generally adequate to convey meaning, placing the lexical score at Band 5.5 to 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The text demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'Italy and Portugal started with a difference of 3.1% emissions per individual in 1967, where Italy was taking the lead.' There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, such as 'there can be seen a significant drop' and 'started at a very high metric tonnes of'. Punctuation and sentence boundaries are mostly functional, but the recurring grammatical slips place this performance securely in the Band 5.5 to 6.0 range.

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