Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-22

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 LINE GRAPH SHOWS THE INFORMATION OF AVERAGE CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSION PER INDIVIDUAL IN THE UK,SWEDEN,ITALYAND PORTUGAL IN 1967 TO 2007.

OVERALL,THE UNITED KINGDOM AND SWEDEN WAS DECLINED OVER THE YEARS.HOWEVER THE ITALY AND PORTUGALWAS INCREASED OVER THE YEARS.

TO BEGIN WITH,IN 1967,11 METRIC TONNES CARBON DIOXIDE EXPORT PER PERSON IN UK.AFTER THAT IT DECREASED OVER THE YEAR AND REACHED AROUND 8.5 METRIC TONNES IN 2007. ADDITIONALLY, IN 1967, AROUND 8.4 METRIC TONNES CARBON DIOXIDE EXPORT PER INDIVIDUALIN SWEDEN. AFTER THAT IT INCREASED SLIGHTLY IN 1977. THEREAFTER , IT DECLINED AND REACHED 4.6 METRIC TONNES IN 2007.

ACCORDING TO THE DATA, CARBON DIOXIDE INCREASED OVER THE YEAR IN ITALY.IN 1967, IT WAS AROUND 4.1 METRIC TONNES.AFTER THAT IT ROSE AND REACHED EARLY 8 METRIC TONNES IN 2007.MOREVER, IN 1967, APPROXIMATELY 1.1 METRIC TONNES CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSION IN PORTUGAL AND IT I

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the main contrast: emissions fell in the UK and Sweden, while they rose in Italy and Portugal. You also include several relevant figures, such as the UK’s fall from about 11 tonnes to around 8.5. However, the report is incomplete: the final sentence about Portugal breaks off, so its substantial rise and its ending level are not reported. The overview also says Italy and Portugal increased, but does not note that Italy levelled off at about 7.6 tonnes after 1997 or that the UK remained the highest emitter. Some figures are inaccurate, notably Sweden at 4.6 rather than about 5.4 in 2007. The response is also below the required 150 words. Complete the Portugal comparison and select the key end-point and plateau features.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and paragraphs describing the countries, and phrases such as “To begin with” and “Additionally” help signal movement between details. However, progression is weakened by the unfinished final sentence (“and it I”), which leaves Portugal’s trend unexplained and makes the report feel incomplete. Linking phrases such as “After that” and “Thereafter” are repeated, so connections can sound mechanical rather than showing precise relationships between data. Grouping the two declining countries together and then the two rising countries is a useful organising choice; make each paragraph complete and use clearer comparisons, for example contrasting Portugal’s steady rise with Italy’s later plateau.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “average,” “metric tonnes,” “declined,” and “reached,” and the reader can generally identify the subject of the report. However, the range and control are limited, with repeated wording such as “increased over the years” and “after that.” Some choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “carbon dioxide export” does not describe emissions, and “reached early 8 metric tonnes” is not a clear way to report a value. The all-capital presentation also makes the response less easy to read, though it is not itself a vocabulary error. Use precise collocations such as “CO₂ emissions per person,” “rose to,” and “levelled off at,” and vary the verbs used to describe trends.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sequences, and the overall meaning of many sentences can be followed. However, grammatical errors are frequent and sometimes make relationships between ideas difficult to understand. Examples include “the United Kingdom and Sweden was declined,” where the subject–verb agreement and verb construction are faulty, and “the Italy and Portugal was increased,” which has similar problems. Several sentences omit articles or prepositions, as in “11 metric tonnes carbon dioxide … in UK,” while “in 1967 to 2007” uses an incorrect time expression. The final sentence is incomplete, preventing the reader from understanding the Portugal data. Practise complete clauses, accurate past-tense trend descriptions, and sentence endings; then check agreement, articles and punctuation.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.