Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

Following graph chart illustrates the emission of carbon dioxide in several countries including UK, Sweden, Italy and Portugal per person from the year 1967 to 2007.

Overall, UK has the highest rate of carbon dioxide emission per person in all these years, though it started to decline in 1977 till 2007. While Portugal has the lowest emission rate, although this emission has been increased but still is lowered than other countries.

In year 1967,UK had the highest emission of Carbon dioxide with 10.8 percent, Sweden was on the second number in carbon dioxide emission with 8.8 percent. Italy ranked on third number with 4.2% emission and Portugal was on the 4th number. Till 1977 emission of Carbon dioxide in UK remain constant but in latter years it started decreasing and falls to 8.8% in year 2007. Emission of carbon dioxide in Sweden increases till 1977 and rose up-to 10.2 percent but later it fall to 7.2% in 1987 and still continues to fall until 2007. Italy showed a continues increase in carbon dioxide emission till 1997 but remain constant in later years until 2007 with 7.7 percent. Lastly, Portugal showed a continues increase from year 1967 to 1997 and in later years from 1997 to 2007 it was a moderate increase.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall pattern: the UK remains the highest emitter, while Portugal starts lowest and rises substantially. You also report the broad trajectories for all four countries, including Sweden’s peak in 1977 and Italy’s later plateau. However, some figures and comparisons are inaccurate: Sweden is about 8.6 tonnes in 1967 and 7.0 in 1987, rather than 8.8 and 7.2; the UK ends at about 8.7, not 8.8. More importantly, the overview says Portugal remains below the other countries, but by 2007 it is level with Sweden at roughly 5.4 tonnes. The overview is relevant, but this comparison and some details need greater precision and fuller development.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and a chronological account of the figures. The sequence from 1967 through 2007 makes the trends easy to follow, and transitions such as “Overall,” “In year 1967,” and “Lastly” help signal progression. However, the linking is sometimes mechanical, and the long body paragraph places all four countries’ details together, making comparisons less prominent. The overview’s “While … although” construction also creates an awkward relationship between ideas. Grouping countries with similar trends, or using separate paragraphs for the declining and rising series, would make the organisation more purposeful and help readers compare the data directly.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “emission,” “decline,” “increases,” “constant,” and “continues to fall,” so the main trends are generally understandable. There is also some attempt to vary expressions for ranking and change. However, several choices are unnatural or imprecise for describing a graph: “on the second number,” “ranked on third number,” and “a moderate increase” are not idiomatic in this context. “Percent” is also the wrong unit because the chart reports metric tonnes per person, not percentages. Repeated use of “emission of carbon dioxide” limits flexibility. Choose standard collocations such as “ranked second,” “rose to,” and “per person,” and vary the wording with accurate terms such as “figure” or “level.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex forms, including contrast clauses and time clauses, as in “though it started to decline” and “but later it fall.” The overall meaning is usually clear, but some grammatical errors recur. Examples include “UK remain constant” and “it fall,” where past-tense forms are needed, and “this emission has been increased,” which uses an incorrect passive construction. The opening phrase “Following graph chart illustrates” is also missing an article and contains an awkward noun sequence. Punctuation and spacing are inconsistent, particularly around commas and dates. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and article use, and check each sentence for subject–verb agreement and punctuation while retaining your attempts at complex sentences.

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