Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-11-04

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)

The line graph compares carbon dioxide emmissions per person on an average among the UK and three others European countries for the period 1967 to 2007.

Overall, the UK had the largest ammount of CO2 emissions, whilst Portugal had the lowest and Sweden also become least carbon dioxide emission country over the years along with Portugal.

Turning to the details, United Kingdom had almost 11 metric tonnes of co2 emission in 1967. Then, it was stable for the next 10 years. Next, their number fell down significantly from 11 to around 9 metric tonnes between 1977 and 2007. However, Sweden's carbon emission was around 9 metric tonnes in 1967 but it jumped to just over 10 metric tonnes in 1977. After that, it decreased to 7 metric tonnes in 1987 then fell down to it's lowest in 2007, standing at arouond 5 metric tonnes.

Furthermore, Italy and Portugal had the least ammount of carbon emission in 1967, where Italy had approximately 5 metric tonnes and Potugal recorder for the lowest numer, standing at 1 metric ton in 1967. Then their number rose gradually over the years and Italy reached at just under 8 metric ton in 2007, and Portugal hits their highest at around 6 metric tonnes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall pattern: the UK remains the highest emitter, while Portugal rises from the lowest starting point, and you describe the contrasting falls in the UK and Sweden against increases in Italy and Portugal. Most reported figures are broadly consistent with the graph. However, the overview is unclear when it says Sweden “also become least” alongside Portugal: Sweden finishes level with Portugal at about 5.4 tonnes, rather than being the lowest alone. The final figure for Portugal is also given as around 6 tonnes, whereas it is about 5.4. Italy’s rise and eventual levelling off at roughly 7.6 tonnes could be reported more precisely. A clearer overview and more accurate endpoint comparisons would make the key features more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and two detail paragraphs. The sequence within each country’s account is generally chronological, and transitions such as “Turning to the details” and “Furthermore” help signal movement between groups. However, the overview’s comparison of Sweden and Portugal is difficult to follow, and “Furthermore” does not clearly explain the relationship between the two countries discussed next. Some references are also vague: “their number” could refer to emissions for either Italy or Portugal, and “it” in the UK paragraph is not fully explicit. Grouping the two declining series together and the two rising series together, with clearer country names and comparisons, would improve progression and cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “metric tonnes,” “stable,” “decreased,” “gradually” and “reached,” so the trends are usually understandable. There are also attempts at more descriptive phrasing, such as “jumped to just over 10.” However, several word-choice and collocation problems reduce precision: “emmissions,” “ammount,” “least amount of carbon emission,” and “Portugal recorder for the lowest numer” are inaccurate or misspelled. “Fell down” is less natural in this context than “fell” or “declined,” and “hits their highest” is awkward. Use standard forms such as “emissions” and “amount,” and choose concise, conventional trend language. This would make the description more accurate and fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including contrast with “whilst” and time clauses such as “After that, it decreased to 7 metric tonnes in 1987.” Most sentences communicate the intended trend, and the chronology is generally clear. Some grammatical errors remain, however. In “Sweden also become,” the verb form should be “became”; “United Kingdom had” needs an article (“The United Kingdom had”); and “Italy reached at” should be “Italy reached.” There are also agreement and reference problems in “Portugal hits their highest,” where the past tense and subject reference need correction. Review articles, verb tense consistency and sentence patterns after verbs such as “reach” to improve accuracy while retaining your range of structures.

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