This IELTS line graph sample answer is about the CO2 emissions of four countries over several decades.
It’s always important to spend a few minutes thinking about how best to organize and present your answer.
With line graphs, look for similarities and differences with the trends (lines) presented. You may find you can then link patterns together in paragraphs to make your answer logical and organized.
Take a look at the IELTS sample line graph and see how it has been organized. How have things been grouped together?
| You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The graph below shows average carbon dioxide (Co2) emissions per person in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, and Portugal between 1967 and 2007. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words. |
Model Answer
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.
(218 Words)
Evaluation of the model answer
Task Achievement: Band 8
The response provides a clear summary of the main trends and key data points from the chart. It identifies the overall patterns (decline in the UK and Sweden, increase in Italy and Portugal) and highlights relevant statistics. However, it lacks a bit more detail about the specific figures across each decade for Italy and Portugal, which could give a fuller picture. The task is well addressed but could be slightly more comprehensive in terms of data coverage.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.5
The report is well-organized, with a logical structure that moves from general observations to specific details for each country. The use of cohesive devices is effective, with words like “conversely,” “however,” and “similarly” helping to clarify relationships between ideas. The flow is smooth, but minor improvements could be made by integrating a few more transition phrases or linking sentences in a more varied way.
Lexical Resource: Band 8
The vocabulary is appropriate and varied, using terms such as “spiked,” “quadrupled,” “continuously fell,” and “steady reduction” effectively. The word choice is clear, but there are minor opportunities to enhance the language by introducing a wider variety of synonyms for “emissions” and “metric tonnes” to avoid slight repetition.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.5
The grammar is accurate, and a range of sentence structures is used, including complex sentences and comparisons. There are no significant grammatical errors, though the sentence “Yet said emissions were on the decline” could be phrased more smoothly as “Yet these emissions were declining.” Overall, the grammatical accuracy is strong, but slight refinements in expression could enhance clarity.
Overall Band: 8.5
This is a well-written response that clearly addresses the task with accurate data and effective language. To achieve a higher score, the report could provide a little more specific detail about the trends across the decades and enhance the variety of vocabulary and transitions.
Leave a Reply