Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-20

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)

This graph illustrates average carbon emissions per person in the United kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal between 1967 and 2007.

Overall, United kingdom had highest number of carbon dioxide emissions per person throughout the period, Followed by Italy which became second by overpassing sweden in 1990, In contrast Portugal and Sweden contributed least amount of CO2 emissions closing at roughly the same amount in 2007.

In 1967, UK was most popular carbon emitters accounting for 11 metric tones per person, Followed by sweden at 8.5, Whereas Italy and potugal initialy began at 4.1 and 1.7 metric tones respectivelly.

The carbon emitters in UK modestly decreased concluding at 8.5 metric tones in 2007, However sweden saw its peak in 1977 at 10.1 then plummeted to 5.7 metric tones in 2007. The italy rose sharrply to 7.9 metric tones in 2007, became the second most carbon emitters country per person. From 1.7 to 5.7 Potugal saw upward trend till 2007 finishing at same level of sweden.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall pattern: the UK remains highest, Sweden declines after a 1977 peak, and Portugal rises to finish level with Sweden. You also include useful starting and ending comparisons. However, some details are inaccurate: Italy reaches about 7.6 tonnes in 2007, not 7.9, and Portugal starts at about 1.2, rather than 1.7. Italy overtakes Sweden around 1990, but the graph only gives decade points, so avoid presenting the crossing year as exact. The response is also one word below the 150-word minimum; add a brief, accurate comparison or detail. More precise reporting of the key changes would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear four-part structure: introduction, overview, and two paragraphs of data, so the reader can follow its general progression. You also use linking expressions such as “Overall,” “In contrast,” and “However.” At times, though, these links are mechanically or awkwardly attached: the overview runs several ideas together with commas, and “However” begins a sentence that continues the UK trend rather than presenting a clear contrast. Grouping the countries by trend—declining UK and Sweden versus rising Italy and Portugal—would make comparisons easier to follow. Use full stops and more precise referencing to avoid long, loosely connected sentences.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of task-related vocabulary, including “peak,” “plummeted,” “upward trend,” and “accounting for,” which helps describe changes rather than merely list figures. However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for this graph: “popular carbon emitters” does not mean highest emissions, and “carbon emitters” is less suitable than “emissions” or “emitters per person.” There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “tones,” “potugal,” “initialy,” “respectivelly,” and “sharrply.” These do not prevent the main message from being understood, but they reduce precision and control. Prefer standard collocations such as “emissions per person” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You use both simple statements and some more complex forms, including “which became second…” and “whereas Italy and Portugal…,” showing an attempt to vary sentence structure. The main trends are generally understandable, but some sentences contain grammatical and punctuation problems. For example, “UK was most popular carbon emitters” has an article and agreement problem, while “The italy rose sharrply… became the second…” lacks a clear grammatical connection between the clauses. Capitalisation is inconsistent, and several sentences are joined with commas where a full stop or conjunction is needed. Aim for complete, clearly punctuated sentences and check subject–verb agreement and articles; this would make your varied structures more accurate.

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