Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 provided line graph demonstrates an average carbon dioxide emissions ratio per individual country wise namely as the UK, Sweden, Italy and Portugal between 1967 and 2007.

Overall, from the line chart it can be seen that, the UK had the highest ratio of carbon dioxide emissions while, Portugal had the lowest ratio of carbon dioxide emissions.

To start with, 1967, the UK person emitted 11 metric tonnes average carbon dioxide and 1987 it was slightly decline and reached 10 metric tonnes and next all years it was stable. Additionally, only 1 metric tonne carbon dioxide emitted by Portugal person in 1967 in next years it was slightly increased and reached 2 metric tonnes and remained all years it was significantly rose and reached 5 metric tonnes.

Furthermore, 4 metric tonnes carbon dioxide was emitted by per person in Italy and in next years it was continously increased and reached 6 metric tonnes in the year of 1977 and final year it was reached nearly 8 metric tonnes. For Sweden, approximately 8 metric tonne carbon dioxide emitted in starting year and next year it was sharply rose at 10 metric tonnes and next all years it was dipped and reached 5 metric tonnes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall contrast: the UK has the highest emissions for most of the period, while Portugal starts lowest. You also report the broad direction of all four lines, including Sweden’s rise and subsequent fall and Italy’s steady increase. However, some details are inaccurate or too general. The UK did not remain stable after 1987; it continued to decline from about 10.1 tonnes to 8.7. Portugal rose to about 5.4 tonnes by 2007, rather than simply reaching 5, and Italy levelled off at about 7.6 in the final decade. The overview could also note that Italy overtook Sweden and that Portugal and Sweden ended at similar levels. The response addresses the task, but some features are less fully and precisely reported than others.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing the countries. Grouping the UK with Portugal and then Italy with Sweden gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression within the detail paragraphs is sometimes unclear, particularly in phrases such as “next all years it was stable” and “in next years it was slightly increased and remained all years it was significantly rose.” These transitions do not clearly distinguish the successive periods, and “next” is repeated mechanically. Use clearer time links such as “by 1987,” “thereafter,” and “over the following decades,” and organise each country’s figures in chronological order. More explicit comparisons between the lines would also make the progression easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “emissions,” “metric tonnes,” “sharply rose,” and “decline,” and the reader can generally understand the trends you describe. There is some attempt to vary wording, but several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing a graph. “Emissions ratio” does not describe the measure shown, and “UK person” and “Portugal person” are awkward ways to refer to per-person figures. Phrases such as “remained all years it was significantly rose” also make the intended trend difficult to interpret. Aim for precise collocations such as “per-capita emissions,” “emissions per person,” “rose steadily,” and “fell to.” Check spelling as well: “continously” should be “continuously.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, and the main meaning is usually recoverable. However, errors in sentence construction and verb forms occur often enough to make some descriptions awkward. For example, “in next years it was slightly increased” uses an incorrect verb pattern, while “it was significantly rose” combines an unsuitable passive form with the past-tense verb. The opening phrase “To start with, 1967” also lacks a clear grammatical link to the following clause. Articles, prepositions, and punctuation need more consistent control, as in “in the year of 1977” and the commas around “while” in the overview. Practise writing direct comparisons with a clear subject and verb, such as “Emissions in Portugal rose from…”

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