Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

The line chart compares the average amount of carbon dioxide released per person in four different countries from 1967 to 2007.

Overall, the amount of carbon dioxide emission changed significantly in the given countries throughout the period. Italy and Portugal experienced a upward trend in the carbon dioxide emission over the 40-year period, whereas United Kingdom and Sweden showed a downward trend. Furthermore, United Kingdom had the highest amount of carbon dioxide emission over the period given, whilst Portugal recorded the lowest figure.

In 1967, the average carbon dioxide released by British was around 11 metric tonnes. The figure decreased steadily throughout the period, reaching approximately 9 metric tonnes by 2007. Similarly, Sweden had almost 9 metric tonnes carbon dioxide emission per person in 1967 which reached a peak of just over 10 metric tonnes in 1977. After that, the figure declined sharply below 6 metric tonnes by 2007.

By contrast, the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by Italian and Portuguese followed a similar pattern over the entire period. Italy and Portugal was just over 4 and 1 metric tonnes emission in 1967, respectively. Carbon dioxide emission increased steadily for both the countries and reached around below 8 and 6 metric tonnes, respectively. Therefore, Sweden fell from second to third in carbon emission.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You identify the overall directions accurately: Italy and Portugal rise, while the UK and Sweden decline over the period, and you note the UK’s consistently highest emissions. The main comparisons are supported with relevant figures, including the UK’s fall from about 11 to 9 tonnes and Sweden’s peak just above 10 in 1977. The final comparison also correctly notes Sweden’s fall from second to third. However, the overview overgeneralises by saying Portugal was the lowest throughout: by 2007 it had caught up with Sweden at about 5.4 tonnes. The account also misses Italy’s levelling off at around 7.6 tonnes from 1997 to 2007. More precise coverage of these end-period details would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response is organised clearly into an introduction, an overview and two detail paragraphs. The progression from the overall trends to the UK and Sweden, then Italy and Portugal, is easy to follow. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “Similarly,” and “By contrast” help signal relationships between the information. The concluding sentence about Sweden’s change in ranking is relevant, though it feels slightly detached from the paragraph and could be integrated with the comparison of the four countries’ final figures. Some repeated phrasing, particularly “carbon dioxide emission,” makes the flow less flexible. Use clearer references and vary transitions where useful, while keeping the current logical paragraph structure.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a suitable range of task vocabulary, including “declined steadily,” “reached a peak,” “downward trend,” and “metric tonnes,” so the main trends are communicated clearly. There is also some variation in how you describe increases and decreases. However, several collocations and forms are awkward, such as “a upward trend,” “carbon dioxide released by British,” and “Italy and Portugal was.” The repeated phrase “amount of carbon dioxide emission” is also less natural than more concise alternatives. These choices do not prevent understanding, but they limit precision and naturalness. Aim for accurate country-based forms and standard chart language, such as “emissions per person” and “the figure for Italy.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including contrast clauses with “whereas” and “whilst,” and most of the information remains understandable. Some sentence patterns are controlled, such as “After that, the figure declined sharply…” However, errors in agreement and articles recur: “a upward trend,” “Italy and Portugal was,” and “the amount … followed” (where the subject is plural countries). There are also missing articles or prepositions in phrases such as “had almost 9 metric tonnes carbon dioxide emission.” These are grammatical issues rather than vocabulary choices. Check subject–verb agreement, article use and noun phrases carefully, and revise longer sentences to ensure each subject and verb match.

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.