Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-02

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 bar chart illustrates the average carbon dioxide emissions per person in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, and Portugal between 1967 and 2007.

Overall, although, the UK experienced a downward trend in terms of the average number of CO2, it remained at the top position. However, Italy showed an upward trend and reached at the second position by the end of 2007. In contrast, the average number of CO2 in Sweden increased till 1977 before reaching to the lowest position in 2007, whereas Portugal reported the highest growth over the period.

In 1967, the UK accounted for around 10.9 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per person, which decreased slightly to almost 10.7 tonnes in 1977. It then declined further to 10 tonnes in 1987 before reaching at around 9.5 tonnes in 1997. This number further decreased to approximately 8.7 tonnes in 2007. Additionally, Sweden represented around 8.7 tonnes in 1967, which increased to a peak of almost 10.3 tonnes in 1977. It then declined gradually to 7 tonnes in 1987 and reached 6 tonnes in 1997. This figure concluded at just 5.7 tonnes in 2007.

On the other hand, Italy reported 4.3 tonnes in 1967, which increased significantly to approximately 6.3 tonnes in 1977. It rose to around 6.8 tonnes in 1987 and stood at 7.8 tonnes in 1997. This number remained unchanged in 2007. Furthermore, Portugal accounted for around 1.3 tonnes in 1967, which increased to almost 2.2 tonnes in 1977. It increased to approximately 3.3 tonnes in 1987 and reached around 5.3 tonnes in 1997. It increased a bit to around 5.4 tonnes in 2007.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You successfully address all parts of the task by covering all four countries over the given time period. Your response contains a clear overview, noting the overall downward trend for the UK, the rising pattern for Italy and Portugal, and Sweden's fluctuation, which helps secure a solid score for this criterion. You also select and report the main features effectively, such as the UK remaining at the top position throughout and Portugal experiencing significant growth. However, there is a minor misclassification in your opening sentence where you refer to the line graph as a bar chart. To reach the highest bands, you could extend your comparisons between the countries even further, linking their trends more cohesively across the years rather than relying primarily on sequential reporting of individual data points.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

Your response demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with a logical progression of information from an introduction and overview into well-defined body paragraphs. You use paragraphing sufficiently and appropriately to group data by countries. Cohesive devices are generally well managed, such as 'Overall, although', 'However', and 'On the other hand', which signal transitions between contrasting ideas effectively. To move closer to the highest bands, you need to ensure that referencing and cohesive ties are smoother and less mechanical, avoiding occasional slight awkwardness in transitions like 'Overall, although, the UK experienced...'. Refining how sentences link together internally will create a more seamless flow of information throughout the response.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items and descriptive phrases such as 'downward trend', 'upward trend', and 'peak'. Your choice of verbs like 'decreased', 'increased', and 'declined' is appropriate for reporting statistical data. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as stating 'the average number of CO2' instead of 'the average amount of CO2' or 'emissions', and writing 'reaching at the second position' instead of 'reaching the second position'. To achieve a higher band, you should aim for greater precision in your lexical choices and eliminate minor errors in prepositions that accompany your vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You display a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and time markers effectively, such as in the sentence describing the UK in 1967. Your control of past tense verbs for historical data is generally good. However, there are some errors in grammar and punctuation that prevent a higher score, such as unnecessary preposition usage like 'reaching to the lowest position' and 'reaching at around 9.5 tonnes'. While these errors rarely impede communication, demonstrating a wider variety of error-free complex structures with tighter control over grammatical patterns would elevate your performance to the next level.

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