Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 graph illustrates the CO2 emitted per person on average in the three European countries over the course of fourty years.

It is clear that the UK's and Sweden's carbon emissions reduced overall. In contrast, Italy and Portugal showed a steady surge.

In 1967, the UK accounted for most emissions, peaking at roughly 10.7 tonnes, followed by Sweden with 8.7 tonnes. Subsequently, Italy and Portugal experienced comparatively smaller figures of 4.2 and 1.3 tonnes.

The carbon dioxide emitted per person in the United Kingdom dropped over the years, with the smallest share of nearly 8.7 tonnes being recorded in 2007. Sweden's data showed slight fluctuations, soaring to 10.3 tonnes in 1977 and then dipping to 7 tonnes in 1987 and further to 5.4 tonnes in 2007. The emissions in Italy climbed to 6.2 tonnes in 1977, before halting at 7.7 tonnes for the next 10 years. A similar pattern was observed in Portugal, where emissions bracketed 3.2 tonnes, 5.4 tonnes and eventually reached 7.7 tonnes, in the years 1987, 1997 and 2007 respectively..

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main contrast accurately: emissions fell overall in the UK and Sweden, while Italy and Portugal rose. The opening-year figures and several later values are also close to the chart. However, some important features are not fully reported or are unclear. The UK’s gradual decline is described, but its intermediate values are omitted; Italy’s rise to about 7.6 tonnes by 1997 and subsequent stability is not clearly expressed by “halting at 7.7 tonnes for the next 10 years.” The overview also misses the notable crossover in which Italy overtook Sweden. In addition, “peaking” is inaccurate for the UK’s 1967 figure, since it was the start and highest point of a decline. Select and explain these key comparisons more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, a concise overview, and paragraphs that move from the starting figures to later changes. Linking expressions such as “In contrast,” “Subsequently,” and “before” help show relationships between trends, and the reader can follow the account without difficulty. To make the progression more complete and flexible, group related comparisons more deliberately—for example, compare the two declining countries together and then the two rising countries, while highlighting where their rankings change. Some transitions are a little mechanical, and the final paragraph combines several series without consistently signalling the time period being discussed. Clearer time markers and more explicit comparisons would strengthen the flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

You use a good range of task-appropriate vocabulary, including “emissions,” “overall,” “fluctuations,” “dipping,” and “climbed,” with enough variation to avoid repetitive descriptions. Some less common choices show awareness of formal reporting style. However, a few expressions are imprecise or do not collocate naturally in this context: “peaking” suggests a maximum reached after a rise, “smallest share” is not the best way to describe a country’s emissions level, and “bracketed” is awkward for reporting figures. “Steady surge” also overstates the smoothness of Italy’s increase, given its later plateau. Choose verbs and nouns that describe the specific pattern and measurement accurately; this will make the otherwise varied vocabulary more precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

You demonstrate a useful mix of sentence forms, including complex clauses such as “The carbon dioxide emitted per person in the United Kingdom dropped over the years, with…” and “Italy climbed…, before…”. Most sentences are clear, and tense use is generally appropriate for describing historical data. A few punctuation and sentence-control slips remain: the response ends with a doubled full stop, and the final sentence is long enough that its sequence of figures and years becomes harder to process. The phrase “the smallest share … being recorded” also creates an awkward grammatical construction for this comparison. Aim to keep each trend statement tightly structured, with a clear subject, verb, and time reference, and proofread punctuation at the end.

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