Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-27

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 line graph illustrates the emission of carbon dioxide per person measured in metric tonnes across four different countries from 1967 to 2007. Overall, per capita emissions decreased in United Kingdom and Sweden, while Portugal and Italy demonstrated a noticeable increase by the end of period. However, the UK remained the highest emitter throughout the period.

In 1967, United Kingdom stood at the topmost figure in emitting the Carbon dioxide around 11 metric tonnes, which gradually declined to 9 metric tonnes by 2007, yet remained the leading country. Subsequently, Sweden at first, reached a peak of just over 10 metric tonnes in 1977 before declining to 5 metric tonnes by the end.

However, In 1967, Portugal accounted for 1 metric tonnes for releasing carbon dioxide, the figures showed a modest increase to 5 metric tonnes by 2007. Italy was around 4 metric tonnes at the beginning and illustrated a rapid rise till 1997 exceeding 6 metric tonnes. After which, it rose steadily to just under 8 metric tonnes by the end of period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You give a clear overview of the main patterns: emissions fell in the UK and Sweden, rose in Italy and Portugal, and the UK remained the highest emitter. The body supports this with relevant start- and end-point figures and Sweden’s 1977 peak. Most values and trends match the graph. The account of Italy is slightly imprecise, however: it rose to about 7.6 tonnes by 1997 and then remained at roughly that level in 2007, rather than rising further after 1997. The overview could also make the final comparison clearer: Italy finished second, while Sweden and Portugal were both around 5.4 tonnes. More precise reporting of these features would strengthen an otherwise well-focused summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response is organised into an introduction, a clear overview and two body paragraphs, with the countries grouped in a sensible way. The progression from the UK and Sweden to Portugal and Italy is easy to follow, and time markers such as “In 1967” and “by 2007” help orient the reader. Cohesive devices are generally effective, though “However” begins both the overview and the final body paragraph without expressing a clear contrast in the latter case. “Subsequently” is also an awkward link before the sentence about Sweden, since it does not clearly show the relationship between the two countries’ trends. Use transitions that signal comparison or addition more precisely, and connect the final Italian figures directly to the preceding trend.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “per capita emissions,” “declined,” “peak,” “modest increase” and “rapid rise.” These choices communicate the main trends, and the meaning remains clear. Some phrasing is less natural or precise: “the topmost figure in emitting” and “accounted for 1 metric tonnes for releasing” are awkward collocations, while “illustrated a rapid rise” is less idiomatic than a direct description of the data. There is also inconsistent capitalisation of “carbon dioxide.” To move beyond adequate range, favour concise, natural chart language and use terms such as “stood at,” “emissions,” and “rose to” accurately and consistently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You attempt a mix of simple and complex forms, including the overview’s contrast between falling and rising emissions and the sentence describing Sweden’s peak before its decline. The message is generally understandable, but some grammatical errors remain. Articles are missing in “in United Kingdom” and “by end of period”; “the figures showed a modest increase” also has an unclear subject, since the figures themselves did not increase. The sentence beginning “After which” is a fragment, and the comma after “However” is incorrectly capitalised in the following word. Check article use, sentence boundaries and punctuation, especially when beginning a sentence with a linking phrase. These corrections would make your varied structures more controlled.

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.