Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The line graph illustrates the amount of average person emission (co2) in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal from 1967 to 2007. Overall, it is evident that two categories are increased and two categories are decreased significantally.

In 1967, average person released (co2) in United Kingdom around 11 metric tones it was leveled off in 1977 that it was decreased slightly in 1987 10 metric tones and also the value was decreased around 9 metric tones in the year 2007. Sweden everege person emission (co2) approximately 8 metric tones the trend was increased sharply 10 metric tones in the year 1977 than the value was declined rapidly 7 metric tones in the year 1987 and the trend was dramatically droped around 5 metric tones in the year 2007.

In sharp contrast, Italy average person released (co2) upto 4 in the year 1967 and the trend was increased 6 in the year 1977 than it was rose slightl in the year 1987 also it was increased around under 8 in the year 1997 also the trend was platuae in the year 2007. while Portugal per person released (co2) 1 metric tonnes it was increased significantally around 3 metric tonnes in the year 1987 than the trend was rose sharply approximately 5 metric per person ion the year 1977 also the value was leveled off 5 metric tonnes in the year 2007.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You cover all four countries and identify the broad contrast between the UK and Sweden declining overall and Italy and Portugal rising. Several figures are also broadly accurate, such as the UK starting at about 11 tonnes and Italy reaching roughly 7.6 by the end. However, the overview is imprecise: “two categories are increased and two categories are decreased” does not make clear that Sweden first rises before falling, or that Italy levels off in the final period. There is also a significant chronology error for Portugal: its rise to about 5 tonnes occurred by 1997, not 1977. To strengthen the report, give a clearer overview and check that each comparison and date matches the graph.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by details about the four countries, with the UK and Sweden grouped before Italy and Portugal. This gives the reader some sense of organisation. However, progression within the paragraphs is often difficult to follow because many details are joined in long chains with “and,” “than,” and “also.” For example, the Portugal account moves from 1987 to 1977, disrupting the timeline, while “In sharp contrast” does not clearly signal the relationship between the two rising series. Use separate, clearly ordered sentences and group countries by trend, while using linking phrases only when they accurately express the relationship.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant chart vocabulary, including “metric tonnes,” “increased,” “declined,” and “leveled off,” and you attempt to vary descriptions of change. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “average person emission,” “released CO2,” and “the trend was dramatically droped.” Spelling errors including “significantally,” “everege,” and “platuae” also make the report less clear and weaken control of vocabulary. Aim for precise, conventional expressions such as “per-person emissions,” “rose,” “fell,” and “remained stable.” Check spelling and avoid using several different change words when a simple, accurate verb would communicate the trend more effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to describe changes across several time periods and use some longer sentence forms, but control is inconsistent. Many sentences lack a clear grammatical structure, as in “In 1967, average person released (co2) in United Kingdom around 11 metric tones it was leveled off in 1977.” This combines clauses without appropriate punctuation and omits articles and verbs. Other examples include “the trend was increased” and “it was rose,” where the verb forms are not correctly constructed. These recurring errors can make relationships between figures and years difficult to understand. Practise writing one complete sentence for each key comparison, using accurate past-tense verbs and clear clause boundaries; for example, “Emissions in the UK stood at about 11 tonnes in 1967 and then declined gradually.”

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