Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-14

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 graph illustrates the average amount of carbon dioxide emissions per person in the United kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal from 1967 to 2007.

Overall, carbon dioxide emissions declined in United Kingdom and Sweden, whereas Italy and Portugal experienced upward trends. UK stood at the highest rank since 1967 throughout the period, while Portugal remained at the lowest at the beginning but saw a considerable increase over the time.

In 1967, Co2 emissions per person in UK stood at approximately 11 tonnes, compared around 8.5 tonnes in Sweden. UK emissions then decreased gradually, reaching about 9 in 2007. Meanwhile, Sweden rose to the peak at around 10.5 tonnes in 1977 and suddenly started dropping and reached about 4.9 tonnes by the end of year.

In contrary, Italy and Portugal continuously rise in their emissions. Italy stood at 4 tonnes initially and then increase gradually reach to 6.5 tonnes in 1977 with continuous rise in throughout the year. With the Portugal, it has begun from 1.2 tonnes in the beginning, but its emissions increased consistently over the period, reaching about 4.5 tonnes by 2007.

By the end of the year, Italy had overtaken Sweden whereas UK and Portugal remains same till the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall contrast: emissions fell in the UK and Sweden but rose in Italy and Portugal, and you note the UK’s consistently high position. Several key comparisons are also included, such as Sweden’s 1977 peak and Italy overtaking Sweden by the end. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: Portugal reached about 5.4 tonnes in 2007, not 4.5, and the UK and Portugal did not “remain same” at the end; their figures were still different. The claim that Italy and Portugal rose “continuously” is broadly right, but the account of Italy’s later rise is vague. More precise endpoint comparisons and accurate figures would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs describing the higher-emitting countries and the rising southern European trends. This makes the main information easy to locate. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “Meanwhile,” and “By the end” help guide the reader, although some transitions are awkward or unclear. For example, “In contrary” does not connect the contrast naturally, and “With the Portugal” interrupts the flow. The final sentence also introduces a comparison that is difficult to interpret because “UK and Portugal remains same” is unclear. Use more precise linking and ensure each paragraph develops a clear comparison from start to finish.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “declined,” “upward trends,” “peak,” “gradually,” and “overtaken.” These choices help describe movement and comparison, and the meaning is generally clear. Some word combinations and forms are inaccurate or imprecise, however: “stood at the highest rank” is unnatural, “continuously rise” does not fit the past-time description, and “reaching about 4.5 tonnes” gives an incorrect endpoint rather than a vocabulary issue. Capitalisation is also inconsistent in “United kingdom” and “Co2.” Aim for natural collocations such as “had the highest emissions” and use precise trend language, while checking country names and technical terms consistently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentences, including the contrast in “Overall” and the clause describing Sweden’s rise and subsequent fall. The main trends remain understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. Examples include missing articles or prepositions in “in United Kingdom” and “compared around 8.5 tonnes,” incorrect verb forms in “Italy and Portugal continuously rise” and “then increase gradually reach,” and agreement errors in “Portugal remains.” The phrase “reaching about 4.9 tonnes by the end of year” also needs an article. Review past-tense consistency and sentence construction, especially when combining several stages of a trend; this will improve accuracy without sacrificing your range.

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