Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-28

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 information about the average carbon dioxide(CO2) emissions per person in the UK, Sweden , Italy and Portugal from 1967 to 2007.

In 1967,around 11% carbon dioxide was emitted in the UK and then it started to decline and reached almost 9% at the end of the period and was the highest emission rate among four countries.Emission of carbon dioxide was almost 9% in 1967 , then there was a sudden increase and it reached almost 10% 1977 before falling to about 7% in 1987.After that, the figure increased drastically and reached approximately 5% in 2007.

In 1967, emission of CO2 was about 4% in 1967 in Italy and then there was a gradual increase and it reached around 7% 1977 before overtaking Sweden in 1987 at around 7% and reached almost 8% in 2007.Portugal was the lowest emission rate of carbon dioxide was it was about 1% in 1967.After that, the figure showed the dramatical increase and reached almost 3% in 1987 and around 5% at the end of the period.

Overall, it can be clearly seen that the UK had the highest emission rate , while Portugal was the lowest emission rate of CO2 .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the overall contrast that the UK had the highest emissions and Portugal the lowest, and you describe the UK’s decline and Portugal’s rise. However, the account is only partly complete: the overview does not mention that Italy rose steadily and finished level with Sweden, or that Sweden peaked in 1977 before declining. Some figures and trends are also inaccurate. Italy was about 6.3 tonnes in 1977, not around 7, and its 2007 value was about 7.6, not 8; Portugal reached about 3.3 in 1987, rather than almost 3. The unit is tonnes per person, not percentages. Select the main trends accurately and give a clearer overview of how the countries compare at the end.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable introduction, country-by-country description and concluding overview, so the reader can follow its general organisation. The sequence from earlier to later years is usually clear, and phrases such as “After that” help signal changes. However, the paragraphing and progression could be more purposeful: the Sweden figures are included in a paragraph that then shifts to Italy, while the final overview repeats the UK–Portugal comparison without summarising Italy’s and Sweden’s relationship. Some linking is mechanical, and repeated wording such as “in 1967” interrupts flow. Grouping the countries by contrasting trends, and using clearer references when moving between series, would make the comparisons more cohesive.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “decline,” “increase,” “overtaking,” and “emission rate,” and the meaning is generally understandable. There are attempts at more descriptive language, such as “sudden increase” and “drastically,” although these are not always precise for the gradual changes shown. Several word choices and collocations are awkward: “the dramatical increase” is not idiomatic, and “Portugal was the lowest emission rate” confuses a country with its figure. The repeated use of “reached” and “emission” also limits variety. Use accurate terms such as “emissions per person,” “rose steadily,” and “recorded the lowest figure,” while avoiding exaggerated descriptions where the graph shows gradual movement.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more extended sentences, including clauses linked with “and then” and “before,” and the main trends can generally be understood. However, some sentence structures are awkward or incomplete, as in “Portugal was the lowest emission rate of carbon dioxide was it was about 1%.” There are also errors in articles, prepositions and sentence boundaries: “reached almost 10% 1977” needs “in 1977,” while “In 1967, emission … was about 4% in 1967” repeats the time phrase and lacks a natural article or plural form. Punctuation spacing is inconsistent. Build more controlled comparisons with accurate clauses, and check each sentence for a clear subject, verb and time expression.

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