Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-13

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 given line gragh provides information about average carbon dioxide (Co2) emissions per person in the United Kingdom,Sweden, Italy,Portugal from 1967 to 2007 ,over a period of 40 years.The units are measured in metric tons.

Overall, it can seen that the average carbon emissions (Co2) in Italy and Portugal showed an increasing trend,while the Uk and Sweden experienced a decreasing trend during the time.

In the beginning,in 1967,sweden's carbon dioxide emissions started at about 8.5 metric tons and increased to 10 metric tons by 1977.However it decresed steadily approximately 5.5 metric tons in 2007. On the other hand, the Uk had the highest amount of carbon dioxide emissions in 1967 ,at around 11 metric tons ,and experienced a gradual decline over the time, which reached nearly 9 metric tons in 2007.

Meanwhile,Italy and Portugal had the lowest levels of carbon dioxide emissions in 1967 but their emissions gradually increased to roughly 8 and 9 metric tons, respectively, in 2007.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the overall contrast correctly: emissions rose in Italy and Portugal, while the UK and Sweden declined over the period. You also report several key starting points and the UK’s position as the highest emitter in 1967. However, some important details are inaccurate: Italy reached about 7.6 tonnes in 2007, not 8, and Portugal reached about 5.4, not 9. The final comparison therefore substantially misrepresents the countries’ relative levels. The overview also misses that the UK remained highest in 2007 and that Italy and Portugal converged with Sweden at roughly 5.4–7.6 tonnes. More accurate endpoint comparisons and a clearer summary of the main ranking changes would make the report more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement, with an introduction, an overview and two paragraphs describing the figures. The contrast markers “However” and “On the other hand” help signal changes in direction, and the country groupings are generally easy to follow. Some linking is mechanical, though, and the final paragraph combines Italy and Portugal without clearly distinguishing their different outcomes. In particular, saying they rose to “roughly 8 and 9” obscures the fact that Italy levelled off at about 7.6 while Portugal ended at about 5.4. Use clearer comparisons between the two countries and connect each figure directly to its trend to improve progression and cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “emissions,” “metric tons,” “gradual decline” and “increasing trend,” so the meaning is generally understandable. However, the range is somewhat repetitive, with “carbon dioxide emissions” and “increased” recurring, and several spelling or word-form errors reduce accuracy: “gragh,” “decresed” and “Co2.” Some phrasing is also imprecise, such as “the lowest levels” for both Italy and Portugal, despite their different starting values, and “reached nearly 9 metric tons” for the UK. Aim for more precise trend language and check spelling and standard forms such as “CO₂” and “tonnes.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including the overview clause beginning “while” and the comparison introduced by “On the other hand.” The main information remains understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “it can seen” is missing “be,” and “it decresed steadily approximately 5.5” needs a clearer verb pattern, such as “it decreased steadily to approximately 5.5.” Punctuation and spacing are also inconsistent, particularly around commas and full stops, and the opening sentence has a run-on feel. Check articles, verb forms and sentence boundaries, while retaining the useful variety of sentence structures you have attempted.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.