Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The line chart illustrates the average carbon dioxide(CO2) emissions per person in the European countries from 1967 to 2007.

Taking a hollistic view, there were significant changes in the distribution of carbon dioxide emissions in different countries. Italy and Portugal showed upward trend while UK and Sweden decreased over the period.

In 1967, Italy average carbon dioxide emissions per person stood at 4 metric tonnes. After that it contiuned to increase in the next three decades it reached to 8 metric tonnes. Additionally, in 1997 to 2007 it remained unchanged throughout the period. Similarly, Portugal followed a comparable trend it started at 1 metric ton after one decade reached 2 tonnes. Furthermore, It increased gradually to approximately 6 tonnes.

On the other hand, United Kingdom began by 11 tonnes. It had dropped slightly by 2 tonnes throughout the end of the surveyed period. Whereas, Sweden stood at 8 tonnes in 1967. Afterwards, it climbed sharply by 2 tonnes in 1977 and then it declined considerably to 6 tonnes. Finally, Portugal and Sweden finished at same point.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the overall contrast accurately: Italy and Portugal rise, while the UK and Sweden finish lower than they began. You also include relevant comparisons, such as the UK starting highest and Portugal and Sweden ending at a similar level. However, some details are imprecise or incomplete. Italy reaches about 7.6 tonnes in 1997 and remains there, rather than reaching 8; Portugal finishes at about 5.4, not approximately 6. The overview also says Sweden decreased, but does not mention its sharp rise to a peak in 1977 before its decline. To strengthen the report, select the main turning points and give more precise comparisons across the four countries.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate discussion of the rising and falling series. This makes the main contrast easy to follow. Linking expressions such as “Similarly,” “On the other hand,” and “Finally” help connect points, although some transitions are mechanical or do not clearly express the relationship between the data. For example, “Whereas” begins a fragment rather than a complete contrast, and the final sentence introduces Portugal again after it has already been discussed. Grouping the countries consistently by trend and using clearer links between each figure and its comparison would make the progression smoother and references more precise.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “emissions,” “upward trend,” “declined considerably,” and “remained unchanged.” These choices communicate the broad movements, and attempts such as “holistic view” show some ambition. However, several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or awkward: “distribution of carbon dioxide emissions” is not a natural description of the trends, and “climbed sharply by 2 tonnes” would be clearer as a rise to a stated level. There are also spelling and form errors, including “hollistic” and “contiuned.” Aim for precise trend language and check spelling; for example, distinguish a rise “to” a figure from a rise “by” an amount.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, and the main message is generally understandable. Some sentences are controlled, such as “Additionally, in 1997 to 2007 it remained unchanged throughout the period,” but several grammatical errors remain. Examples include the missing possessive in “Italy average,” the awkward construction “it reached to 8,” and the incomplete contrast “Whereas, Sweden stood at 8 tonnes.” There are also issues with articles, prepositions, and sentence boundaries, as in “Portugal followed a comparable trend it started…” Use complete clauses, check subject–verb and possessive forms, and revise punctuation where two independent ideas are joined. These corrections would improve accuracy while preserving your range of structures.

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