Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-11-05

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 average carbon dioxide emmissions of each person in four different countries between 1967 and 2007.

Overall, although United Kingdom accounted for the highest propotion of carbon dioxide emmissions, it showed an overall downward movement over the period. On the other hand, least amount of carbon dioxide emmission recorded from Portugal and it showed upward trend over the period.

In 1967, UK had about 11 metric tonnes of CO2 emmission per person and it gradually decreased to 9 metric tonnes after 40 years in 2007. However, in Sweden at first it displayed a growth of CO2 emmissions from 8 to 10 metrin tonnes, then it dropped considerably in next 30 years of period from 10 to 5 Metric tonnes.

Italy and Portugal experienced a substantial increase over the period. Furthermore, they had the smallest percentages in 1967 with 1 and 4 metric tonnes respectively. In comparison to UK, in 2007 CO2 emmission propotion is 9 metric tonnes Protugal only reached 5 metric tonnes by the end of the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad pattern that the UK’s figure declined while Portugal’s rose, and you include relevant starting and ending values. However, the overview is incomplete: it does not mention that Italy also rose substantially and finished level with Sweden, or that the UK remained the highest throughout. Some comparisons are unclear or inaccurate. For example, you call the figures for Italy and Portugal the “smallest percentages” in 1967, although these are emissions per person, and the values are reversed: Italy was about 4 tonnes and Portugal about 1. The final comparison also gives Portugal’s 2007 figure as 5 tonnes without clearly comparing it with Italy’s 7.6. Select the main trends accurately and report the key rankings and endpoints.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the figures. Time markers such as “In 1967” and “by the end of the period” help orient the reader, and “On the other hand” signals contrast. However, progression is uneven because the final paragraph combines Italy and Portugal without clearly tracing either trend, while the Sweden paragraph contains a long, awkward comparison. Some linking is mechanical or confusing, particularly “Furthermore” where the relationship between the ideas is not clear. The phrase “In comparison to UK” also introduces a comparison that is difficult to follow. Group the countries by trend, and use clear references and transitions to show how their figures relate.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “gradually decreased,” “dropped considerably,” and “substantial increase,” which helps describe movement in the graph. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, sometimes making the data harder to interpret. “Proportion” and “percentages” do not describe the graph’s measurements; these are emissions in metric tonnes per person. There are also repeated spelling errors, including “emmissions,” “propotion,” “metrin,” and “Protugal.” Use precise terms such as “figure,” “level,” and “per-capita emissions,” and check spelling carefully. Vary the verbs used for increases and decreases while keeping the descriptions accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast structure beginning “although” and a sentence describing Sweden’s rise and subsequent fall. However, errors in sentence construction and grammatical forms are frequent enough to make some relationships unclear. For example, “least amount of carbon dioxide emission recorded from Portugal” lacks a clear verb and article, while “in next 30 years of period” has an incomplete grammatical pattern. The sentence beginning “In comparison to UK” is also awkwardly constructed, and the final clause does not clearly connect Portugal’s figure to the comparison. Practise complete subject–verb structures, articles, and clear clause boundaries; then proofread punctuation and sentence links.

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