Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The graph provides key information about the average emmissions of carbon dioxide per person between 1967 and 2007 in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal. The figures are given as metric tonnes.

Overall, it is clear from the graph that the emissions per person had a significant increase in Portugal and Italy from 1967 to 2007. In addition, United Kingdom and Sweden had declined through the years.

According to what is shown, emissions per person in Portugal had risen from 1 metric tonnes in 1967 to almost 5 metric tonnes in 2007. Emmissions per person in Italy had also risen from 4 in 1967 to almost 8 in 1997 and stayed at the same level until 2007.

In terms of emmissions per person in United Kingdom, the decline was moving slowly from 11 in 1967 to almost 9 in 2007. While for Sweden, the emmissions had a significant increase from 1967 to 1977 reaching almost 10 metric tonnes, then there was a decline from 1977 through 2007 reaching almost 5 metric tonnes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover all four countries and give a clear overview of the contrasting trends: emissions rose in Italy and Portugal, while they fell in the UK and Sweden. The main figures are generally accurate, including Italy’s rise to about 7.6 tonnes by 1997 and its subsequent stability, and Sweden’s peak around 1977 followed by a decline. This gives the report a solid factual basis. Some details are less fully reported: Portugal reached about 5.4 tonnes, rather than merely “almost 5,” and by 2007 it had drawn level with Sweden, an important comparison worth highlighting. The overview could also identify the UK as the highest emitter throughout. More precise comparisons and coverage of these key features would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is arranged in a clear sequence: an introduction, an overview, and then paragraphs describing the rising and falling trends. This makes the information easy to follow, and phrases such as “Overall” and “In addition” help signal the structure. The country groupings are also sensible. However, some linking is mechanical or slightly awkward, particularly “According to what is shown” and “In terms of emissions per person in United Kingdom.” The final sentence begins with “While,” leaving a dependent clause rather than a fully integrated sentence. You could improve progression by linking the countries through direct comparisons—for example, noting that Portugal caught up with Sweden by 2007—rather than reporting each trend largely in isolation.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “average,” “metric tonnes,” “decline,” “risen,” and “reaching,” and the meaning remains clear. There is some variation in how you describe changes, which suits a line graph. However, several choices are imprecise or repetitive: “significant increase” is used for trends of different sizes, while “had declined through the years” and “the decline was moving slowly” are less natural descriptions. “Emmissions” is misspelled repeatedly, and “1 metric tonnes” shows an inaccurate word form. Aim for more precise trend language and accurate spelling; terms such as “rose steadily,” “peaked,” and “fell gradually” would describe the data more naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including the overview sentence beginning “Overall” and the contrast introduced by “then.” Most of the information is understandable, and the time references are generally handled appropriately. Some grammatical errors remain, however. In “1 metric tonnes,” the noun should be singular, and “in United Kingdom” needs the definite article: “in the United Kingdom.” The final sentence, “While for Sweden, the emissions had…,” is a fragment because “while” introduces a dependent clause without a main clause. There is also an awkward construction in “the decline was moving slowly.” Check articles, singular/plural agreement, and sentence completeness, and vary complex structures while keeping them accurate.

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