Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-08

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 5.5)

The line graph below illustrates the average release of carbon dioxide per individual in the UK, Sweden, Italy and Portugal between 1967 and 2007.

Overall, it is clear that United Kingdom showed moderately decline in carbon dioxide emissions with the passage of time. Additionaly, in the Sweden carbon dioxide emissions sharply declined. But in the Italy significant rise in the carbon dioxide emissions was observed.

Initially, in 1967 CO2 emisssions in Sweden accounted for roughly 8.5 metric tonnes which increased up to 10.2 metric tonnes in 1977. After 1977 there was sharp decline in the emissions of CO2 which conciderably dropped to 7 metric tonnes in 1987. Excessive decline in the emissions of CO2 continues untill 2007 which is roughly 5.2 metric tonnes. The Uk also showed decline in the CO2 emissions over the years in the 1967 Co2 emissions were around 11 metric tones which moderately declined after 1977 and reached near to 8.5 meteric tonnes roughly. In the 1987 10 meteric tonnes CO2 emissions were recorded in the UK.

Comparatively, Both Portugal and Italy showed significant rise in the emissions of CO2. In the Italy in 1967 4.2 metric tonnes emissions were recorded which continues to increased up to 6.2 metric tonnes in 1977 and reached up to 7.8 metric tonnes in 1997 and leveled off in 2007. Similarly, Portugal initially released less than 2 meteric tonnes emissions and in 1987 CO2 emissions increased to 3.1 metric tonnes roughly. After that it showed excessive rise up to 5 meteric tonnes and remained constant in 2007.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover all four countries and identify the main broad patterns: UK emissions declined, Sweden fell after an early peak, and Italy and Portugal rose. Several figures are close to the chart, and you correctly note that Italy levelled off by 2007. However, the overview omits Portugal’s substantial rise and does not clearly compare the countries’ ending levels. There is also a factual inconsistency in the UK account: you say emissions reached about 8.5 tonnes, then report 10 tonnes in 1987, without clearly placing the 1997 figure of about 9.5. Sweden’s final value is slightly understated, though this is a small approximation. A clearer overview and more accurate, consistently ordered comparisons would make the key features more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing the data. The country grouping in the final paragraph also helps readers follow the rising trends. However, progression within the body is sometimes unclear, especially in the UK account, where the figures move from the final value back to 1987. Connectors such as “But,” “Comparatively,” and “Similarly” are used, but some links feel mechanical or do not clearly express the relationship between the information. Repeated references to “emissions of CO2” also make the writing less smooth. Organise each country’s figures in chronological order and use clearer comparisons between series to improve cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “metric tonnes,” “declined,” “increased,” and “levelled off,” so the main trends are generally understandable. There is some variety in how you describe change, but several choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “moderately decline,” “excessive decline,” and “released less than 2 metric tonnes emissions” do not express the trends idiomatically. Spelling errors such as “Additionaly,” “conciderably,” “untill,” and “meteric” are noticeable, and repeated use of “emissions” limits flexibility. Choose standard trend language and check spelling carefully; this will make the report more precise and easier to read.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including clauses beginning “which increased” and “which continues to increased.” The meaning is usually recoverable, but errors in verb forms, articles, and sentence construction are frequent enough to affect fluency. For example, “United Kingdom showed moderately decline” needs an article and a correctly formed adjective, while “which continues to increased” has an incorrect verb form. Several sentences also lack clear grammatical links, as in “in the 1967 Co2 emissions were around 11 metric tones which moderately declined.” Practise accurate past-tense reporting and build sentences around a clear subject and verb. More reliable control of these patterns would improve readability.

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