Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-07

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The graph below shows the average monthly change in the prices of three metals during 2014.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Average monthly change in prices of copper, nickel and zinc (2014)

Student answer (Band 5.0)

The line chart compares how the prices of three metals namely copper, nickel and zinc change monthly in 2014.

Overall, the price of nickel was highest while that of zinc was lowest in january. At the end of the year, cost of zinc surpassed other two price of metals and reached the highest amongst all. At the month of june, price of all metals dropped.

The price of nickel was increased by 6% in january, that of copper and zinc rose by 2

% and 1% respectively, compared with previous month. In june, the price of nickel dipped and reached the lowest of all that is -3%. The price fluctuated and get stable in 1% by december.

In the initial year, the cost of copper was 2% more than previous month. It showed a significant fluctuations over the period and was less than 2 % by the end of the year. However,the price of zinc was 1% in january and took a upward tranjectory in february and again dropped till

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the three metals and include a broad overview, noting nickel’s high January figure and the metals’ decline around June. However, the overview contains important inaccuracies: zinc was not the lowest in January (copper was), and zinc did not finish above both other metals; nickel ended at about 1%, copper at 1.5%, and zinc at 2%. The statement that all metals dropped in June is also imprecise, as copper was around -0.5%, zinc -1%, and nickel -3%. The report then stops while describing zinc, leaving its later recovery and several key comparisons unreported. Select the main turning points and accurately summarise the year-end positions to make the response more complete and reliable.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing individual figures. This gives the reader some organisation, and phrases such as “Overall” and “In June” help signal the focus. However, progression is uneven: the final paragraph begins a description of zinc but ends abruptly at “dropped till,” so the account is incomplete and the relationship between details is difficult to follow. Some information is also repeated, such as the June decline appearing in both the overview and the detail. Use complete paragraphs that cover the main stages in sequence, and connect comparisons explicitly—for example, contrast the metals’ June lows with their recovery toward December.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “fluctuated,” “surpassed,” “dipped,” and “reached the lowest,” which helps describe movement. However, several choices are inaccurate or awkward for a graph report: “price was increased” is not a natural way to describe a percentage change, “cost” is used where “price” would be clearer, and “took a upward tranjectory” contains both an incorrect article and an unsuitable spelling of “trajectory.” “Significant fluctuations” is also not well supported by copper’s relatively small movements. Aim for precise, conventional collocations such as “rose by,” “fell to,” and “recovered,” and check spelling and word forms. This would make the description clearer and more controlled.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including the overview sentence beginning “At the end of the year” and comparisons using “while” and “that of.” Meaning is generally recoverable, but errors recur in verb forms, articles, agreement, and sentence completion. For example, “the price of nickel was increased” uses an incorrect passive construction, while “the price fluctuated and get stable” shifts tense and has faulty verb agreement. The phrase “At the month of June” also shows an inaccurate grammatical pattern, and the final sentence is unfinished after “dropped till.” Use past simple consistently for the 2014 data, check articles and verb forms, and ensure every sentence is complete. More accurate control of these patterns would improve readability.

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