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 line graph illustrates the average amount of carbon dioxide emitted per person in the four countries between 1967 and 2007.

Overall, carbon dioxide emissions decreased in the United Kingdom and Sweden, whereas Italy and Portugal experienced upward trend. The UK remained the highest emitter throughout the period while, Portugal had the lowest emissions for most of the period.

In 1967, the UK produced approximately 10.2 metric tonnes of CO2 per person, compared with around 8.5 tonnes in Sweden. The figure for the UK remained relatively stable until 1977 before gradually declining to around 8.2 tonnes in 2007. Sweden's emission initially increased to about 10 tonnes in 1977, but then fell sharply to approximately 5 tonnes in 2007.

The Italy reported 4.2 metric tonnes of CO2 per person and this trend continuously increased thorughout the period. The Portugal produced lowest emission in 1967 to around 1.5 tonnes. However, this figure continued surged to about 4.6 tonnes CO2 in 2007.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You provide a clear overview of the main contrast: emissions fell in the UK and Sweden but rose in Italy and Portugal, and the UK remained the highest emitter. Most reported figures and trends are broadly consistent with the graph. However, some details are inaccurate: the UK starts at about 10.8 tonnes, not 10.2, and ends near 8.7, rather than 8.2; Portugal reaches about 5.4 tonnes in 2007, not 4.6. The overview also says Portugal was lowest for “most” of the period, although it was lowest throughout. Italy’s rise and its levelling off at around 7.6 tonnes in the final decade are not described, so some important information is less fully covered than other features.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response is organised effectively into an introduction, an overview and two detail paragraphs. Its progression from the overall patterns to country-specific figures is easy to follow, and linking expressions such as “Overall,” “whereas,” “before” and “but then” help show contrasts and changes over time. The grouping of the UK and Sweden together, followed by Italy and Portugal, is also logical. To make the organisation more complete, develop the final paragraph so that Italy’s trend is compared with Portugal’s and the plateau in Italy after 1997 is included. A few transitions between the country descriptions could be smoother, but the overall sequence remains clear and cohesive.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use an adequate range of task-appropriate vocabulary, including “emissions,” “remained relatively stable,” “gradually declining” and “fell sharply.” These choices communicate the main trends clearly, and the repeated use of “metric tonnes” is appropriate for reporting the units. Some word choices and collocations are less natural, however: “produced” is not the best verb for emissions, and “continued surged” is not a correct expression. There is also a spelling error in “thorughout.” Greater precision in describing the data—for example, distinguishing a rise from a later levelling off—would add flexibility and accuracy. The meaning remains clear despite these slips.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including a clear contrast in “emissions decreased … whereas Italy and Portugal experienced upward trend” and a time sequence with “initially increased … but then fell.” Most sentences are understandable, and errors rarely obscure the intended meaning. Some grammatical inaccuracies remain: “experienced upward trend” needs an article, “The Italy” and “The Portugal” use unnecessary articles, and “this figure continued surged” has an incorrect verb form. The sentence beginning “The Italy reported…” also joins two ideas awkwardly. Review articles with country names and practise structures such as “continued to surge” or “continued surging.” More consistently accurate complex sentences would strengthen control.

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