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 depicts the information about the emission of carbon dioxide by per person in The United Kingdom, Sweaden, Italy and Portugal from 1967 to 2007.

Looking athe details, in United Kingdom the highest amount of 11 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emit by per person in initial year which was gradually decreased to 7 metrictonnes in 2007. Followed by Sweaden with second highest number of carbon dioxide emission with0 metric tonnes in 1967 which increased to nearly 10 metric tonnes in 1977 thatafter it was dropped sharply to 5 metric tonnes.

Furthermore, in Italy, almost 4 metric tonnes of carbon emission was recorded in intial year which was continousely rose and reached to around 8 metric tonnes in 2007. At last, nearly 0 metric tonnes of carbon emitted by per person in Portugal in 1967 which was increased slightly to 5 metric tonnes and showed resemblance in remain year(2007).

Overall, it can be seen that, United Kingdom was the highest number of carbon emissions but it was dropped down whereas Portugal was the least in initial year but rose in given time period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the four countries and give a broad account of the main contrast: UK emissions decline, while Portugal rises from the lowest starting point. You also describe Sweden’s peak and subsequent fall, and Italy’s increase. However, some key details are inaccurate or too vague. The UK ends at about 8.7 tonnes, not 7, and Sweden starts at about 8.6, not 0; Portugal begins at about 1.2 rather than 0. The overview also misses that Italy overtakes Sweden and finishes level with Portugal, while the UK remains highest. More accurate figures and a clearer summary of these comparisons would make the report more complete and better supported.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, country-by-country details, and a concluding overview. The grouping of the UK and Sweden before Italy and Portugal helps the reader follow the account, and transitions such as “Furthermore” and “Overall” signal changes in focus. However, some links are awkward or unclear, particularly “Followed by Sweaden” and “thatafter it was dropped sharply,” which make the sequence of Sweden’s figures difficult to follow. The final overview repeats earlier information rather than bringing the most important comparisons together. Use clearer transitions and organise the body around contrasting trends—for example, declining emissions versus rising emissions—to create smoother progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “emission,” “metric tonnes,” “gradually decreased,” and “rose,” so the reader can generally understand the subject and trends. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “emission … by per person,” “highest number of carbon emissions,” and “showed resemblance in remain year.” Spelling errors, including “Sweaden,” “athe,” and “intial,” also reduce precision. Aim for standard chart-reporting phrases and accurate forms: for example, “per-capita emissions,” “the highest level,” and “remained stable.” This would make the description more concise and natural without requiring unnecessarily complex vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some complex sentence forms, including relative clauses such as “which was gradually decreased” and linked clauses describing changes over time. However, these structures are often faulty, and errors occur frequently enough to make parts of the report difficult to read. Examples include “the highest amount … emit by per person,” “which was continousely rose,” and “which was increased slightly”; these mix verb forms or use passive constructions where an active form is needed. Articles, prepositions, and sentence boundaries also need attention, as in “in initial year” and the long, unclear sentence about Sweden. Practise simple, accurate trend sentences first, then add clauses while checking tense and subject–verb structure.

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