Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-23

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)

Ther line graph illustrates average carbon dioxide emissions per person in four different countries namely United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal in a time period between 1967 and 2007. Overall, Italy was a most noteable feature while Sweden and Portugal was also significant. The remaining UK showed relatively minor chnages throughout the period.

To begin with, the first country with the most change it was Italy, it started at over 4 metric tones in 1967. It then rose and reached slightly less than 8 metric tones in 2007. This was the most significant feature of the line graph.

Moving to the other countries, Sweden started at over 8 metric tones in 1967, it has increased in 1977 to over 10 metric tones. Then from 1987 to 2007 it has continously decreased and reached to under 6 metric tones. Similarly, Portugal stood at slightly less than 2 metric tones in 1967 it then rose and increased to under 6 Metric tones in 2007. Finally, the country which has least change UK it started at slightly more than 10 metric tones, it then fell and went at over 8 metric tones in 2007.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the four countries and give a broad overview, noting Italy’s rise and the UK’s comparatively small change. Several figures and directions are also reported accurately: Sweden peaks at just over 10 tonnes in 1977 before declining, while Portugal rises from a low starting point to just under 6 tonnes. However, the overview is unclear in “Italy was a most noteable feature,” and the claim that Sweden and Portugal were “significant” does not explain their contrasting trends. The UK’s change is also understated: it falls from about 10.8 to 8.7 tonnes, a larger decline than the description “least change” suggests. Include the key comparison that Italy overtakes Sweden and finishes second, and clarify that Italy levels off at the end.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by paragraphs describing Italy and the other countries. Sequencing phrases such as “To begin with,” “Moving to the other countries,” and “Finally” help readers follow the account. However, some linking is mechanical, and the long sentences joined by commas—for example, the sentence beginning “Sweden started at over 8 metric tones”—make the relationships between events less clear. The overview also does not establish a precise organising comparison, so the country-by-country details feel somewhat list-like. Grouping the two rising countries together and the declining countries together, while using clear time references, would create a stronger progression and make comparisons easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “emissions,” “metric tones,” “increased,” “decreased,” and “reached,” so the main trends are generally understandable. There are also attempts at more descriptive phrasing, such as “the most significant feature.” However, the range is limited and several choices or spelling errors reduce precision: “most noteable feature” is unclear, “least change” is an awkward description, and “went at” does not naturally describe a fall in a figure. Spelling errors such as “chnages,” “continously,” and “noteable” are noticeable. Use precise trend language and check spelling; for example, describe a figure as “fell to” a value and distinguish a peak from a final level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, and the overall meaning can usually be followed. However, some sentence structures are faulty, particularly where two clauses are joined only by a comma: “Sweden started at over 8 metric tones in 1967, it has increased…” and “It then rose and reached…” The overview also contains agreement and article problems in “Italy was a most noteable feature while Sweden and Portugal was also significant.” Tense use shifts between past and present perfect (“it has increased,” “it has continously decreased”) when describing a completed period. Improve control by using past simple consistently and separating independent clauses with a full stop or a suitable conjunction. These corrections would make the comparisons clearer.

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