Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-15

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 graph illustrates the average emission of carbondioxide in the four different countries in a span of four years. The X-axis represents the years whereas the Y-axis represents the amount of CO2 emissions in metric tonnes. Portugal shows a stable graph over years with a gradual increase in overall emission which peaked in the 1997 and then the steep line shows the plateu that the trend would continue for the other three years. Italy on the other hand already had a higher emission of CO2, having one peak in 1977 and the other in 1997 and then was stable for a decade.

The remaining two countries show an opposite downward trend in CO2 emission where the UK had a gradual and stable downward trend but Sweden shows a sharp upward peak in the year 1977, and then a drastic change 1977 onward. One similarity is that almost all the countries reached their plateu in 2007.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify several relevant patterns, including the UK’s gradual decline, Sweden’s rise to a peak followed by a fall, and Italy’s later stability. However, the account is incomplete and some key details are inaccurate or unclear. Portugal did not peak in 1997: its emissions continued rising to 2007, when they levelled off at about 5.4 tonnes. Italy’s peak was in 2007, not 1997, and it was not already higher than Sweden or the UK. The overview that “almost all” countries reached a plateau in 2007 is also misleading. To strengthen the response, give a clear overall summary of the contrasting trends and support it with accurate comparisons, such as the UK remaining highest while Portugal rose from the lowest level.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a discernible sequence: it first discusses Portugal and Italy, then turns to the UK and Sweden, and uses linking phrases such as “on the other hand” and “One similarity.” This gives the reader some sense of organisation. However, the ideas are compressed into two long paragraphs, and the comparisons are not consistently clear. For example, “the remaining two countries” requires the reader to infer which countries are meant, while “a drastic change 1977 onward” does not specify the direction or outcome. The opening description of the axes also takes space without advancing the summary. Organise the report into a brief overview followed by focused comparisons, and use clearer references and transitions between trends.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “gradual increase,” “downward trend,” “peak,” and “stable,” so the main subject is generally understandable. There are also attempts at more descriptive phrasing, such as “sharp upward peak.” However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or imprecise: “stable graph” does not describe a rising trend, “plateu” is misspelled, and “the trend would continue” is speculative rather than a report of the data. “Emission” is also repeated where “emissions” or “levels” would sound more natural. Choose vocabulary that precisely describes the line’s movement, and check spelling and collocation. This would make the account clearer and more appropriately formal.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including contrast clauses such as “Italy on the other hand…” and a relative clause in “the trend that would continue.” Most of the meaning remains understandable, but some grammatical choices reduce precision. In “Portugal shows… which peaked,” the relative clause appears to refer to the emission, but the sentence structure makes the trend difficult to follow. “The remaining two countries show an opposite downward trend… where the UK…” also uses an unclear clause connection. There are some issues with articles and prepositions, as in “peaked in the 1997” and “1977 onward.” Aim for shorter, controlled sentences when describing each country, and check clause links, articles, and prepositions.

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