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 distribution in four distinct countries (United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, Portugal) from 1967 to 2007, for the typical respiration rate of carbon dioxide per person. Units are measured in metric tonnes.

Overall, the Britain constituted the highest emission of carbon dioxide and portugal remained the least contributor in the given timeframe. Sweden and Italy experienced noticeable fluctuations in the mid 70s.

The UK accounted for the highest emission of around 11 metric tonnes in 1967, and it decrease marginally to 9 metric tonnes by 2007. Sweden surged dramatically around 10 metric tonnes in 1977, but descended sharply throughout the years.

Italy initiated with just 4 metric tonnes and experienced a gradual increase in mid years and hit a maximum at around 8 metric tonnes. Though, Portugal was the least contributor in 1967 but it gradually increased and surged in 1997 around 5 metric tonnes and became the equal of Sweden by 2007.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main overall pattern: the UK remains the highest emitter, while Portugal rises from the lowest starting point and catches Sweden by the end. You also report several relevant figures, including the UK’s fall from about 11 to 9 tonnes and Italy’s rise to roughly 8. However, some key trends are only partly developed or imprecise. Portugal is described as the least contributor across the timeframe, although it is level with Sweden in 2007; the overview should make that endpoint clear. Sweden’s peak in 1977 and subsequent decline are noted, but Italy’s eventual levelling off at about 7.6 tonnes is not stated. The response selects relevant features, but fuller, more precise comparisons would strengthen coverage.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing the country trends. This gives the reader a coherent route through the information, and linking expressions such as “Overall,” “but,” and “Though” help connect points. The progression is not always fully controlled, however. The overview says Sweden and Italy fluctuated in the mid-1970s, while the later details do not clearly explain Italy’s steady rise or Sweden’s later decline. “Though” at the start of the final paragraph also creates an awkward connection, and the comparison between Portugal and Sweden is left until the end. Grouping the rising countries together and the declining or high-emission trends together would make the comparisons more systematic.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for describing trends, including “surged,” “descended sharply,” “gradual increase,” and “marginally.” These choices make the main movements understandable, and the response uses relevant terms such as “metric tonnes” and “emission.” Some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, though: “typical respiration rate” does not describe the chart, “Britain constituted the highest emission” is awkward, and “least contributor” is imprecise. “Fluctuations” is also not a good summary of Italy’s steady increase. Aim for standard chart language such as “per-capita emissions,” “recorded the highest figure,” and “rose steadily.” More precise collocations would improve clarity and control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use both simple and more complex sentence forms, including contrast clauses with “but” and “though,” and most of the meaning remains clear. Some grammatical errors persist. In “it decrease marginally,” the past-tense verb should be “decreased”; “the Britain constituted” has an unnecessary article, and “Portugal was the least contributor” needs a more suitable grammatical construction, such as “Portugal had the lowest emissions.” The sentence beginning “Though, Portugal…” also uses “though” awkwardly as a sentence opener and would be clearer as “Although Portugal…”. There is some control of sentence structure, but checking tense consistency, articles, and clause connections would make the writing more accurate.

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