Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-24

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 chart illustrates average carbon dioxide emissions per person in the UK, sweden, Italy and Portugal during 1967 and 2007. Overall, it can be seen that average carbon dioxide emissions per person was the highest in the UK and then Sweden but it dropped after 1977, whereas the carbon dioxide emission rose in Italy and Portugal gradually.

Initially, the graph demonstrates that the United Kingdom and Sweden was at the highest metric tonnes with upto 10 and upto 8 in 1967 then Sweden increased at upto 10, whereas the United Kingdom stayed same until 1977 but from the year 1977 it started decreasing rapidly and in 2007 the United Kingdom was at almost 9 metric tonnes, meanwhile Sweden was between 4 and 6 per person.

However, Italy and Portugal were at low metric tonnes at more than 4 and less than 2 but they increased eventually and Italy reached at approximately 7, meanwhile Portugal rose up to almost 5 in the year 2007.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the overall contrast accurately: emissions fell in the UK and, after a peak, in Sweden, while Italy and Portugal rose. You also select relevant starting and ending comparisons, including the UK’s high level and Portugal’s low starting point. However, some key details are incomplete or imprecise. Sweden peaked around 1977 and then declined substantially, but the description “between 4 and 6” does not clearly report its 2007 figure of about 5.4. Italy levelled off at roughly 7.6 from 1997 to 2007, a useful feature not captured by saying it “reached at approximately 7.” The overview also says the UK was highest “and then Sweden,” which could suggest a change in ranking; the UK remained highest throughout. Report these patterns and endpoints more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by details about the two higher-emitting countries and then Italy and Portugal. This gives the reader a coherent overall route through the information. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “whereas,” and “meanwhile” help show comparisons, although “meanwhile” is repeated and sometimes connects figures without making their relationship clear. The second paragraph also combines several time points in a long sentence, making the sequence of Sweden’s rise and subsequent fall harder to follow. Use clearer grouping by trend and time period, and make each comparison explicit—for example, contrast the UK’s gradual decline with Sweden’s peak in 1977 and later fall.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “emissions,” “metric tonnes,” “increased,” “decreasing,” and “gradually,” so the main trends are understandable. There are also attempts at more precise expressions such as “approximately” and “eventually.” Some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or repetitive, however: “was at the highest metric tonnes” and “reached at approximately 7” are not natural ways to describe values, while “upto” should be written as “up to.” Repeating “rose” and “increased” also limits variety. Prefer standard chart language such as “stood at,” “peaked at,” “declined to,” and “remained stable.” Capitalise “Sweden” consistently and use “emissions” consistently when referring to the measured quantities.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a contrast with “whereas” and a time clause beginning “from the year 1977.” These structures help communicate the main trends, and the meaning is generally clear. Some errors in agreement and sentence construction remain: “emissions per person was” should be “emissions per person were,” and “the United Kingdom and Sweden was” should be “were.” The phrase “then Sweden increased at upto 10” also lacks a clear grammatical object or value construction. Several sentences are long and joined with multiple clauses, so punctuation and clause boundaries need attention. Practise accurate subject–verb agreement and use shorter, controlled sentences when reporting several countries or time points.

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