The graph below shows average carbon dioxide (Co2) emissions per person in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, and Portugal between 1967 and 2007.
Sample Response
The chart presents the average CO2 emissions per person in four European nations from 1967 to 2007. Overall, average CO2 emissions of individuals in the UK and Sweden generally dropped, whereas emissions per person in Italy and Portugal rose significantly. Despite the steady reduction, average emissions in the UK were the highest in the given period. Among the selected countries, the CO2 emissions per person in the UK were the highest throughout the four decades, yet said emissions were on the decline. In 1967, the average emissions per person were nearly 11 metric tonnes. But by 2007, that had fallen to roughly 9 metric tonnes. Somewhat similarly, the average CO2 emissions in Sweden were almost 9 metric tonnes per person in 1967. The emissions spiked, however, to nearly 11 metric tonnes in 1977 though from there, emissions continuously fell, dropping to just 5.5 metric tonnes in 2007. Conversely, both Italy’s and Portugal’s carbon dioxide emissions per person increased between 1967 and 2007. Italy’s CO2 emissions nearly doubled, starting at just above 4 metric tonnes in 1967 and ending at almost 8 metric tonnes four decades later. Portugal’s CO2 emissions, however, nearly quadrupled. The per capita average in 1967 was just 1.5 metric tonnes. But in 2007, the emissions had reached 5.5 metric tonnes, matching Sweden's average.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use natural phrasing Original: emissions of individuals Suggested revision: per-person emissions Why it matters: This is the more natural expression for emissions measured for each person.
- 2. Avoid legalistic wording Original: said Suggested revision: its Why it matters: The possessive form refers to the UK's emissions more naturally and precisely.
- 3. Correct scale of increase Original: nearly quadrupled Suggested revision: rose to almost five times their initial level Why it matters: The graph shows an increase from just over 1 tonne to about 5.5 tonnes, which is substantially more than a fourfold rise.
- 4. Name the measure clearly Original: The per capita average Suggested revision: Per-capita emissions Why it matters: This directly identifies the quantity being described and avoids the vague noun average.
- 5. Correct Portugal figure Original: just 1.5 metric tonnes Suggested revision: just over 1 metric tonne Why it matters: Portugal's 1967 value is close to 1 tonne on the graph rather than 1.5 tonnes.
- 6. Sentence rewrite Original: Overall, average CO2 emissions of individuals in the UK and Sweden generally dropped, whereas emissions per person in Italy and Portugal rose significantly. Suggested revision: Overall, per-person emissions fell in the UK, while Sweden's figure rose to a 1977 peak before declining; Italy and Portugal both increased substantially. Why it matters: This overview captures Sweden's distinctive initial rise as well as the contrasting national trends.
- 7. Sentence rewrite Original: The emissions spiked, however, to nearly 11 metric tonnes in 1977 though from there, emissions continuously fell, dropping to just 5.5 metric tonnes in 2007. Suggested revision: Sweden's emissions rose to just over 10 metric tonnes in 1977 and then fell steadily to about 5.5 tonnes in 2007. Why it matters: The revision reports the peak more accurately and expresses the subsequent trend clearly.
- 8. Add crossover comparison Suggested revision: Add a direct comparison showing that Italy overtook Sweden between 1987 and 1997. Why it matters: This crossover is a prominent relationship between the two middle series and strengthens feature selection.
Suggested Rewrites
- emissions of individuals per-person emissions
- said its
- nearly quadrupled rose to almost five times their initial level
- The per capita average Per-capita emissions
- just 1.5 metric tonnes just over 1 metric tonne
- Overall, average CO2 emissions of individuals in the UK and Sweden generally dropped, whereas emissions per person in Italy and Portugal rose significantly. Overall, per-person emissions fell in the UK, while Sweden's figure rose to a 1977 peak before declining; Italy and Portugal both increased substantially.
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response gives a clear, accurate account of the four national trends, supported by well-chosen starting, peak, and ending figures, and its language is fluent and well controlled. Its main limitation is that the description relies mostly on endpoints and says little about Italy's intermediate movement or the late convergence of Sweden and Portugal. Adding one or two precise cross-country comparisons at key years would make the coverage more fully analytical.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
A clear overview and accurate figures capture all four overall trends and Sweden's distinctive peak.
Add an intermediate comparison involving Italy and highlight when Sweden and Portugal converge.
Coherence and Cohesion
The report progresses logically from the overview to the falling and rising country groups, with clear referencing and transitions.
Use visible paragraph breaks to separate the overview, declining countries, and rising countries more decisively.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary for trends, quantities, and comparisons is varied, precise, and natural throughout.
Reduce the repeated use of CO2 emissions by substituting concise references where the meaning remains unambiguous.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of simple and complex structures is used accurately with consistently clear control.
Integrate a few short sentences beginning with But into adjacent complex sentences for smoother stylistic control.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The graph below shows average carbon dioxide (Co2) emissions per person in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, and Portugal between 1967 and 2007.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.