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 illustrated line graph compares the average carbon dioxide emissions per person in four different countries- United Kingdom,Italy,Sweden and Portugal between 1967 and 2007. Overall, the United Kingdom and Sweden witnessed a dramatic decrease in the average carbon dioxide emissions,While Portugal and Italy experienced a rise in the average carbon dioxide emissions over the period.However, the United Kingdom had the highest emissions throughout the period.

To begin with, in 1967 UK had the highest carbondioxide emissions at 11 metric tonnes. This figure gradually fell to 10 metric tonnes by 1987 and was further reduced to approximately 9 metric tonnes by 2007.Similarly, Sweden had the second highest emissions in 1967 at 9 metric tonnes. However, it steadily rose and then declined to 7 metric tonnes by 1987 and fell further to 5.5 metric tonnes by 2007.

On the other hand, Portugal and Italy demonstrated a rise in carbon dioxide emissions. In 1967 Portugal recorded 3.5 metric tonnes which steadily rose to 4 metric tonnes by 1987. Moreover by 2007 it reached a maximum of 5.5 metric tonnes. A similar trend, can be seen foe Italy. In 1967 it recorded 4.2 metric tonnes which

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the main contrast between the declining figures for the UK and Sweden and the rising figures for Italy and Portugal, and correctly note that the UK remained highest. Several details, however, are inaccurate or incomplete. Portugal began at about 1.2 tonnes, not 3.5, and rose to around 3.3 by 1987; the response instead gives 4 tonnes for that year. The account of Sweden also omits its initial rise to a peak of about 10.3 tonnes in 1977. Most importantly, the response ends while describing Italy, so its later increase and final level are not reported. These gaps leave the task only partially addressed. Select the key turning points and give a complete account of all four countries.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction and overview are followed by paragraphs grouping the declining countries and the rising countries. This makes the main comparisons easy to follow, and linking expressions such as “Similarly” and “On the other hand” help signal relationships. The progression is not fully sustained, however, because the final paragraph stops partway through the Italy description, leaving the comparison unfinished. Some transitions are also mechanical or awkward, such as “Moreover by 2007,” and punctuation around linking phrases is inconsistent. To strengthen the organisation, complete each country’s trend within its paragraph and use transitions that clearly connect the specific data points rather than simply adding another sentence.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “average carbon dioxide emissions,” “gradually fell,” “steadily rose,” and “recorded,” which communicates the general trends. There are also attempts at more precise language, such as “approximately” and “maximum,” although “maximum” is not the best description of Portugal’s final value because it simply describes the endpoint. Some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or repetitive: “witnessed a dramatic decrease” overstates the UK’s gradual decline, and “experienced a rise in the average carbon dioxide emissions” is repeated. Spelling and spacing also need attention in “carbondioxide” and “foe.” Use concise, precise trend language and check country names and technical terms carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including the contrast in “While Portugal and Italy experienced a rise…” and the relative clause “which steadily rose…”. Most sentences remain understandable, but some grammatical and punctuation errors are present. The opening sentence has inconsistent spacing around commas, and “However” is incorrectly capitalised after a comma in the overview. In “A similar trend, can be seen foe Italy,” the comma separates the subject from its verb; the sentence should read “A similar trend can be seen in Italy.” The final sentence is also incomplete, ending with “which” and leaving the clause unfinished. Review sentence boundaries, punctuation, and clause completion, while continuing to use varied sentence structures.

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