Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-01

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)

The graph chart below represents the amount of carbon dioxide emmisions per person in four European countries from 1967 to 2007.

Overall, the carbon dioxide emissions of Italian and Portuguese people grew significantly, while the average carbon dioxide emissions of Swedish and British people decreased slightly.

To begain with, the average carbon dioxide emissions per person in Italy and Portugal were just over 4 and 1 metric tonnes respectively, in 1967. The level of carbon dioxide emissions per person in Italy rose gradually just below 7 metric tonnes and then continued to stabilise throughout the period. However, the level of carbon dioxide emissions per person in Portugal experienced a dramatic growth, reaching about 5 metric tonnes in 1997, it remained unchanged throughout the year.

Moreover, the amount of carbon dioxide in the UK was the highest at about 11 metric tonnes in 1967, while in Sweden it was about 9 metric tonnes in 1967. By 1977, this amount increased and became almost 10 metric tonnes in Sweden and then decreased slightly to approximately 5 metric tonnes by 2007, same as Portugal. In the Uk, it also decreased, but not significantly. It became about 9 metric tonnes in 2007, which was the highest among the others.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses the main parts of the task by outlining general trends and reporting several key figures from the graph, such as the starting and ending data points for the UK, Sweden, Italy, and Portugal. An overview is successfully included in the second paragraph, capturing the main contrasts between the countries. However, certain aspects are under-developed or imprecise. For instance, the student states that Portuguese emissions 'remained unchanged throughout the year' (likely meaning period) and mentions Sweden's figures imprecisely as 'about 9 metric tonnes' when it started at 8.6. Furthermore, some data points are grouped confusingly, and key comparisons could be extended more thoroughly to fully satisfy the higher bands. Nonetheless, the core information is presented and the overall selection of features is relevant.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear attempt at paragraphing, separating the introduction, overview, and body details. Information is generally ordered logically, starting with an introduction and overview, followed by grouped body paragraphs comparing the countries. However, the progression between ideas is sometimes mechanical or abrupt, relying on basic cohesive devices like 'To begain with' and 'Moreover'. Referencing can also be slightly unclear at times, such as when pronouns or phrases like 'this amount' refer back across sentences with loose links. While paragraphing is used, the internal transitions within body paragraphs would benefit from smoother linking to achieve a higher level of cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The writer demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range for the task, successfully attempting less common items and descriptive phrases such as 'dramatic growth', 'rose gradually', and 'stabilise'. However, there are noticeable spelling and word choice errors throughout the text, including 'emmisions' instead of emissions, 'begain' instead of begin, and the awkward phrasing 'throughout the year' instead of throughout the period. Some vocabulary is also used slightly repetitively or imprecisely when describing data movements. These errors do not seriously impede communication, but they prevent the writing from achieving a higher band score due to the lack of precision and occasional lapses in word form.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over basic structures and some complex clauses, such as 'while the average carbon dioxide emissions of Swedish and British people decreased slightly'. There are some errors in grammar and punctuation, such as missing articles ('In the Uk'), comma splices or awkward punctuation in complex sentences ('reaching about 5 metric tonnes in 1997, it remained unchanged'), and occasional preposition misuse. However, these errors are relatively infrequent and rarely impede communication, allowing the reader to follow the intended meaning without significant difficulty.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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