Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-09

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 illustrates average emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) per individual in four countirie (UK, Sweden, Italy, and Portugal) from 1967 to 2007.

Overall, the emissions of CO2 in the United Kindom were the highest throughout the period. Whereas, Portugal emissions were the lowest but sharply rose to same point of Sweden in the last year reamining in the last place.

To begin with UK, showed a downward trend, it started at almost 11 metric tonnes in 1967, and it consistently decreased ended at nearly 9 metric tonnes in 2007, with the biggest emissions rate in the fourth countries. However, the Sweden emissions witnessed a fluctuation, in the first year was at 9 metric tonnes, it followed by slight rise reaching its peak at just over 10 metric tonnes, subsequently it dramatically decreased to end in the lowest point approximately 5 metric tonnes as the Portugal emissions.

Italy pattern experinced an upward trend, initiated around 4 metric tonnes, countinuously climbed to just under 8 metric tonnes in 2007, in the second biggest emissions during the given period. Similarly, Portugal saw similar pattern commenced at the lowest point in all the graph accounted for almost 1 metric tonnes, it influanced by the biggest variation, it rockted to over 5 metric tonnes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall patterns: the UK remains the highest-emitting country, while Portugal rises from the lowest starting point and finishes level with Sweden. The account also includes relevant figures for all four countries, such as the UK falling from about 11 to 9 tonnes and Italy rising to nearly 8. However, some details are unclear or imprecise: Sweden peaks at just over 10 tonnes in 1977, then declines, but calling its final value “the lowest point” does not distinguish it clearly from Portugal’s equal endpoint. The overview also says Portugal “remain[s] in the last place,” which conflicts with its tie with Sweden. Make the overview more precise and compare the countries’ final positions explicitly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and separate discussion of the countries. The sequence from the UK and Sweden to Italy and Portugal is easy to follow, and phrases such as “Overall,” “However” and “Similarly” help connect points. Some links are mechanical or confusing, though: “Whereas” is used as a sentence opener without a complete contrast, and “To begin with UK, showed…” does not clearly connect the subject to the verb. The final sentence also combines several ideas without a clear progression. Use complete topic sentences and make comparisons directly—for example, group the declining UK and Sweden together, then contrast them with the rising Italy and Portugal.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “downward trend,” “fluctuation,” “peak” and “upward trend,” which helps describe changes rather than merely list figures. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, including “biggest emissions rate,” “biggest variation,” “influanced by” and “rockted.” “Countirie” and “experinced” also show spelling problems. These errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the main trends, but they reduce precision and control. Prefer standard graph language such as “highest emissions,” “largest increase” and “rose sharply,” and check spelling carefully. Avoid using “pattern” where “trend” or “figure” would express the intended meaning more naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex structures, including contrasts and clauses describing changes over time. The main message is generally understandable, but some sentence structures are faulty. For example, “To begin with UK, showed a downward trend” lacks a clear grammatical subject, while “in the first year was at 9 metric tonnes” is missing one. The sentence beginning “Whereas” is also incomplete, and several clauses are joined with commas where a full stop or conjunction is needed. There are some problems with articles, plurals and agreement, as in “Portugal emissions” and “1 metric tonnes.” Build each sentence around a clear subject and verb, then check that clauses are joined correctly.

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