Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-28
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 tracks the changes in the mean emission of carbon dioxide per person in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal spanning 1967 to 2007.
Overall, the production of average carbon dioxide per person kept increasing in Portugal whereas the opposite trend was observed in the United Kingdom. Fluctuations can be seen in Sweden's and Italy's per person production of carbon dioxide.
The United Kingdom witnessed a downwall since the beginning from over 11 metric tonnes to over 9 metric tonnes in 2007. In contrast, Portugal observed a consistent increase beginning with over 1 metric tonne in 1967 to finally around 5 metric tonnes in 2007.
Fluctuations are widely evident in the case of Sweden and Italy. The emission in Sweden first increased from over 9 metric tonnes in 1967 to over 10 metric tonnes in 1977, followed by a gradual downfall to the same point as Portugal in 2007. Similarly, Italy's production started increasing from around 4 tonnes in 1967 till over 8 tonnes in 1997, after which the level was stagnant till 2007.
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 an appropriate overview and highlighting key trends and comparisons between the four countries. For instance, the general decline in the UK and the upward trend in Portugal are correctly identified. Data points are generally accurate, such as noting the UK's drop from over 11 metric tonnes to around 9 metric tonnes, and Portugal's rise from over 1 to 5 metric tonnes. However, there are minor inaccuracies regarding Sweden and Italy; for example, stating Sweden's emission level reached the 'same point as Portugal in 2007' is factually incorrect as Sweden was at 5.4 and Portugal at 5.4, but the text implies they ended identically while the graph shows them crossing or converging slightly differently. Additionally, stating Italy's level was 'stagnant till 2007' is acceptable as it remained at 7.6. Overall, ideas are well-selected and supported.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. It begins with a suitable introductory paragraph, moves into a clear overview paragraph identifying main trends, and then splits the body paragraphs logically by country groupings (the UK and Portugal in one paragraph, Sweden and Italy in the next). Cohesive devices are used effectively, such as 'Overall,' 'In contrast,' and 'Similarly.' Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different aspects of the visual data. The only minor flaw is that referencing could occasionally be tighter, but overall cohesion is clear and unobtrusive.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
The student demonstrates an adequate to good range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms like 'mean emission,' 'fluctuations,' 'downfall,' and 'stagnant.' There are some awkward collocations or lexical choices, such as 'downwall' instead of 'downward trend' or 'decline,' and 'per person production' which is slightly unnatural compared to 'per capita emissions.' Nevertheless, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the information clearly, and spelling and word formation are generally accurate, allowing the reader to follow the descriptions without difficulty.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5
The response displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'The line graph tracks the changes...' and 'While the emission in Sweden first increased...'. Grammatical control is generally quite good, with numerous error-free sentences. There are occasional minor errors, such as 'beginning with over 1 metric tonne' (where 'starting at' might be more idiomatic) and the use of 'downwall' which is grammatically non-existent. However, these errors do not impede communication, and punctuation is handled correctly throughout the piece.
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