Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-17

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 6.5)

The line graph illustrates the average carbondioxide (co2) emissions in metric tonnes per person in four different countries United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal between 1967 and 2007.

Overall, the UK had the highest level of CO2 emissions throughout the period, although its figure gradually declined. In contrast, emissions in Italy and Portugal increased considerably. Sweden experienced a significant rise followed by a steady fall.

In 1967,the average emisions in the UK stood at approximately 11 metric tonnes per person, compared with around 8.5 tonnes in Sweden. The UK figure remained relatively stable until 1977 before gradually decreasing to about 9 tonnes in 2007.

Italy showed a consistent upward trend, with emissions increasing from about 4 tonnes per person in 1967 to around 6.5 tonnes in 1977. The figure continued to rise, reaching approximately 8 tonnes in 1997, before ending at just over 8 tonnes in 2007.

Similarly, Portugal experienced a steady increase from roughly 1 tonnes in 1967 to around 5.5-6 tonnes in 2007. By the end of the period, Portugal's emissions had almost caught up with Sweden's, while Italy had become the second-highest emitter among the four countries.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You provide a clear overview of the main patterns: the UK remains highest while declining, Italy and Portugal rise, and Sweden peaks before falling. Most figures and comparisons are grounded in the graph. However, Italy ends at about 7.6 tonnes, not “just over 8,” and Portugal finishes at roughly 5.4, so “5.5–6” is a little high; the UK’s 2007 figure is closer to 8.7 than 9. The statement that Italy became the second-highest emitter is accurate, but the overview could be more precise by noting that Italy overtook Sweden and that Portugal and Sweden ended at a similar level. The response covers the task well, though some comparisons and details are less fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is organised effectively into an introduction, an overview and two detail paragraphs. The progression from the broad trends to country-specific figures is easy to follow, and linking expressions such as “In contrast,” “Similarly” and “By the end of the period” help connect the information. The grouping of the UK and Sweden in one paragraph and Italy and Portugal in another is clear, although it misses an opportunity to compare the countries directly at key points, especially Italy’s rise past Sweden and the near-equal final figures for Sweden and Portugal. Cohesion is generally successful, but some transitions are formulaic and the final comparison could be integrated more smoothly into the data description.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-appropriate vocabulary, including “gradually declined,” “consistent upward trend,” “stood at” and “caught up with.” These phrases communicate the trends clearly, and repetition is mostly controlled. However, some word choices are imprecise: “emissions” is more naturally described as a figure that “rose” or “fell,” rather than saying a country “experienced” emissions, and “almost caught up with” is less exact than stating that the two countries finished at similar levels. There are also spelling and presentation slips, including “carbondioxide,” “emisions” and “co2.” More precise trend language and careful spelling would make the vocabulary more controlled and natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

You show a useful mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including the contrast clause “although its figure gradually declined” and the participial phrase “reaching approximately 8 tonnes in 1997.” Most sentences are clear and grammatically controlled, with accurate past-tense reporting throughout. A few errors remain: “In 1967,the” needs a space after the comma, and “from roughly 1 tonnes” has a number–noun agreement error; use “1 tonne.” The opening sentence also needs clearer punctuation around the list of countries, for example by placing a comma before the list or using a colon. These are minor issues that do not obstruct meaning, but proofreading punctuation and agreement would improve accuracy.

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