Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-26

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 line graph compares average carbon dioxide emissions per person in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal between 1967 and 2007.

Overall, the UK had the highest emissions throughout the period, although its figure gradually declined. Sweden also experienced a decrease after reaching a peak in 1977. In contrast, Italy and Portugal showed overall increases.

In 1967, CO₂ emissions in the UK stood at about 10.8 metric tonnes per person, compared with 8.7 tonnes in Sweden. Italy and Portugal recorded much lower figures, at approximately 4.2 and 1.2 tonnes respectively. Sweden rose to around 10.2 tonnes in 1977, before falling steadily to about 5.5 tonnes by 2007.

Meanwhile, Italy's emissions increased consistently from roughly 4.2 tonnes in 1967 to 7.7 tonnes in 1997, after which they remained almost unchanged. Portugal experienced the most significant proportional growth, rising from about 1.2 tonnes to 5.4 tonnes over the 40-year period.

By 2007, the gap between the four countries had narrowed considerably, with Sweden and Portugal both recording approximately 5.5 tonnes per person.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The student produces a fully developed response that successfully covers all key features of the provided line graph. The overview accurately highlights the main overall trends, noting that the UK led throughout with declining emissions, Sweden peaked and fell, while Italy and Portugal saw upward trajectories. Specific data points, such as the UK starting at 10.8 metric tonnes and Sweden peaking in 1977, are accurately reported without major distortions. The comparisons made between the countries throughout the period are well-chosen and relevant, resulting in a comprehensive and accurate summary that fully satisfies the requirements of Task 1.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. The information is grouped logically into an introduction, an overview paragraph, and two detailed body paragraphs focusing on specific timeframes and country groupings. Cohesive devices are used appropriately and naturally to guide the reader through comparisons, such as 'In contrast,' 'Meanwhile,' and 'By 2007.' Paragraphing is used skillfully, and referencing throughout the text remains clear, ensuring smooth transitions between ideas and data points.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to academic data reporting. Phrases like 'gradually declined,' 'reached a peak,' 'rose steadily,' and 'proportional growth' show a good awareness of collocation and style appropriate for describing trends. Word choices are precise, and there are no noticeable spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. The use of less common vocabulary items is handled naturally throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The response exhibits a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, featuring subordinate clauses and participial phrases (e.g., 'after reaching a peak in 1977,' 'before falling steadily'). Grammatical control is strong, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Punctuation is accurate, and minor structural variations are managed well without any errors that cause difficulty for the reader.

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