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 per-person emissionsemissions 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 itssaid 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, rose to almost five times their initial levelnearly quadrupled. Per-capita emissionsThe per capita average in 1967 was just over 1 metric tonnejust 1.5 metric tonnes. But in 2007, the emissions had reached 5.5 metric tonnes, matching Sweden's average.
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.