Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The line graph illustrates the average emissions of carbon dioxide per person in four different countries including United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, Portugal from 1967 to 2007.

Overall, it is clearly evident that the amount of average carbon dioxide emission per person in United Kingdom dominated the whole period. However, the amount dropped significantly in Sweden after 1977, whereas in Italy, and Portugal, it rose constantly and became steadily at the end of the period.

At the beginning of the period, the average carbon dioxide emission per capita in United Kingdom was at its peak among the four countries, which later decreased slowly in 4 decades and reached at just below 9 metric tonnes. Additionally, the figure for Sweden followed a rapid boom in the first decade and reached at just above 10 metric tonnes. However, after 1977 the figure for Sweden started dropping rapidly.

On the other hand, the amount of CO2 emission per capita in Italy and Portugal followed a different path. The figure for Italy increased rapidly from just above 4 metric tonnes to just below 8 metric tonnes by the year 1997 and for next decade it remained steadily at the same point. Again, the figure for Portugal took more rapidly increasing path. It rose from just above 1% to more than 5% in 4 decades and reached at the same point that of Sweden.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main overall contrast: UK emissions remained highest while Sweden declined after its peak, and Italy and Portugal rose. The response also includes relevant figures and comparisons, such as the UK ending just below 9 tonnes and Italy levelling off near 8. However, some key details are incomplete or imprecise. Sweden’s decline is described as rapid, although it falls over several decades, and the overview does not clearly state that Portugal rose to roughly the same level as Sweden by 2007. The claim that Italy and Portugal “rose constantly” is also too broad because Italy’s figure was nearly stable in the final decade. More precise reporting of the main turning points and end values would make the summary more complete and clear.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs grouping the UK and Sweden separately from Italy and Portugal. This makes the main comparisons easy to follow. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “Additionally,” and “On the other hand” help signal relationships between ideas. At times, however, the connections feel mechanical or do not accurately express the data relationship; “However” introduces the Swedish decline without a strong contrast, and “Again” is not a clear transition to Portugal. Some references, including “the same point that of Sweden,” are difficult to interpret. Use more precise links and refer directly to the countries or figures when comparisons might otherwise be unclear.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a suitable range of topic vocabulary, including “emissions,” “per capita,” “metric tonnes,” “decreased,” and “increased,” so the trends are generally understandable. There are also attempts at more descriptive language, such as “dominated” and “followed a different path.” However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing a graph: “rapid boom” for Sweden’s rise, “rose constantly” for trends that include a plateau, and “took more rapidly increasing path.” The use of “1%” and “5%” for Portugal is also incorrect because the chart reports metric tonnes, not percentages. Aim for precise trend vocabulary and natural collocations, and keep the measurement unit consistent throughout.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including clauses introduced by “whereas” and “which,” and most of the meaning remains clear. Some grammatical errors nevertheless reduce accuracy. Articles and prepositions are missing or incorrect in phrases such as “in United Kingdom” and “reached at just below 9”; write “in the United Kingdom” and “reached just below 9.” The phrase “for next decade it remained steadily” needs an article and a different grammatical form, for example, “for the next decade, it remained steady.” There are also agreement and punctuation issues in “in Italy, and Portugal, it rose.” Review articles, verb patterns, and sentence punctuation while retaining your attempts at complex structures.

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