Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-12

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 7.0)

The line graph compares the average amount of carban dioxide (CO2) per capita in four European nations from 1967 to 2007.

Overall, while the United kingdom and Sweden carbon emission per person decreased, Italy and Portugal saw significant increase. Dispite the downward trend, United Kingdom consistenly recorded the highest emission throughout the entire period.

1967, the UK led with approximately 11 metric tonnes per person, which grdually decreased to just under 9 metric tonnes per person by 2007.

Sweden initially witnessed a sharp rise from about 8.5 tonnes to a per of just over 10 tonnes pin 1977. However, this was followed by a sharp decline to 6.5 tonnes in 1987, ending at roughly 5.5 tonnes in the final year.

Conversly, CO2 emissions in Italy and Portugal grew steadily, Italian emissions start at just over 4 metric tonnes in 1967 and rose gradually to around 7.9 tonnes by the end of the period. Portugal started lowest at just above one tonne, but climbed consistently to meet Sweden's level of 5.5 tonnes in 2007.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The response selects the main trends accurately and gives a clear overview: emissions fell in the UK and Sweden, rose in Italy and Portugal, and the UK remained highest. The key comparisons are supported with relevant figures, including the UK’s fall from about 11 to under 9 tonnes and Portugal’s rise to match Sweden at roughly 5.5 tonnes. The account of Sweden’s peak and subsequent decline is also useful. Italy’s final figure is slightly overstated as 7.9 tonnes rather than approximately 7.6, but this is a minor discrepancy and does not undermine the summary. To strengthen an already well-developed report, make the comparison between Italy and Sweden’s changing positions more explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The information is organised effectively into an introduction, an overview and two detail paragraphs. The progression from the overall trends to the UK and Sweden, then to Italy and Portugal, is easy to follow. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “However,” and “Conversely” help signal relationships between ideas, and the final comparison between Portugal and Sweden gives the account a clear endpoint. Some connections could be more precise: the transition to the detail paragraphs is abrupt, and the opening “1967, the UK led” would read more smoothly with a time marker such as “In 1967.” Continue using this clear paragraph structure, while making transitions between the overview and supporting details more natural.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

There is a suitable range of vocabulary for describing trends and comparisons, including “gradually decreased,” “sharp rise,” “sharp decline,” and “climbed consistently.” These choices communicate the main movements clearly, and “per capita” is an appropriate alternative to “per person.” However, several spelling errors—“carban,” “Dispite,” “grdually,” and “Conversly”—reduce accuracy. Some phrasing is also imprecise or awkward: “a per of just over 10 tonnes” appears to mean “a peak,” while “saw significant increase” needs a more natural form. The range is adequate and includes some effective trend language; careful proofreading and more precise collocations would make it more flexible and controlled.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex structures, including a contrast clause beginning “while” and the sentence “Although this was followed by a sharp decline…” would be a useful model for linking stages in a trend. Most relationships between ideas remain understandable. Some grammatical errors persist, however. In “the United kingdom and Sweden carbon emission per person decreased,” the possessive structure and plural agreement need correction: “emissions per person in the United Kingdom and Sweden decreased.” The sentence beginning “1967, the UK led” also needs an introductory prepositional phrase, and “Italian emissions start” shifts tense from the past narrative. Review agreement, sentence openings and consistent past-tense reporting to improve accuracy.

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