Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-08

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 5.5)

In this graph we see that nickel reached 6% its price in January which was the highest then it started declining and hit 1% in the two months of march and april and kept declining untill it reached its lowest at -3% in june , then a stable phase in the three months after and a rise to 1% in the last two months , when it comes to zink it reached its highest in February at 3% then starts going down untill -1% in june then a stable period of 4 months but at the end it goes up to 2% , finally the copper start declining from 2% in January to less than 0% in june then always a stable three months and it rises back up in the last two months after a little decline in october , those metals follow almost same graph across the year

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main movements of all three metals, including nickel’s high starting point and sharp fall, zinc’s February peak, and copper’s comparatively modest changes. Several figures are broadly accurate, and you note the late-year recovery. However, the overview is not clearly separated from the details, and the claim that the metals “follow almost same graph” overgeneralises: their early movements differ, and nickel’s fluctuations are much larger. Some details are also imprecise; for example, nickel was stable around -1% from July to September, not simply in a stable phase without stating its level. A clearer overview comparing the metals’ volatility and shared mid-year decline would make the response more complete and better focused.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response follows a generally understandable order, moving from nickel to zinc and then copper, and time markers such as “in January,” “in June,” and “at the end” help the reader follow the year. However, the information is presented as one long sentence-like sequence, with no paragraphing or distinct overview. Linking words such as “then,” “when it comes to,” and “finally” are repetitive, and the final comparison arrives abruptly. This limits the sense of progression and makes comparisons harder to identify. Organise the report into an introduction, a concise overview, and one or two detail paragraphs, using links that show contrast as well as sequence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing trends, including “declining,” “lowest,” “stable,” and “rise,” so the main movements are usually understandable. However, the range is limited and several expressions are imprecise or awkward, such as “reached 6% its price,” “a stable phase,” and “always a stable three months.” The spelling “zink” is incorrect, and “less than 0%” is less precise than describing the value as negative. Repeated use of “then” also makes the account sound basic. Build a more accurate set of trend phrases and use them selectively—for example, “fell to,” “remained steady at,” and “recovered to”—while checking spelling and natural collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response communicates the broad sequence of changes, but it relies heavily on a long chain of clauses joined by “then,” with limited control of sentence boundaries and punctuation. There are recurring errors in verb forms and agreement: “the copper start declining” should be “copper started declining,” while “then starts going down” shifts tense unexpectedly. The phrase “nickel reached 6% its price” also lacks a grammatical construction such as “a 6% price change.” These problems sometimes make relationships between details less clear. Use past-tense reporting consistently and divide the account into shorter, complete sentences. You can still include complex structures, but check each clause for a clear subject, verb, and appropriate punctuation.

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