Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-09

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 4.5)

The line chart compares the avereage monthly change in the prices of copper, nickel and zinc during 2014.

It is evident that the initial highest percentage in nickel and lowest percentage in zinc, while zinc sharply increased and the given year highest and lowest nickel.

In terms of metals during 2014, january to march in the prices of nickel swift decreased in 6% to 1% then the next month march to april in price of monthly metals stable. while may june again decreased in -3% following that june to july hasty increased in -1%, subsequently july to september fixed in the prices of nickel then gaindecreased to october afterword again fastly increased later once more stable in the last month in december.

Regarding the remaining years, the percentage of zinc in january to february sharply increased in the prices of zinc after that february to march slowly decreased in 1% then june earliest decreased following that huly to semtember stable next octuber to nobember sharly increased in the last month increased in 2%. While, In the coppper january to march increased in the prices then stable next month after that incresed in next month then july to semtember stable then decreased at the time increased in the prices copper in 1%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify all three metals and attempt to describe their monthly movements, including nickel’s high starting point and its sharp fall, as well as later changes in zinc and copper. However, the overview is unclear and contains inaccurate claims: zinc did not reach the year’s highest point, and nickel’s lowest point was in June, not simply as implied by “the given year highest and lowest nickel.” Several details are also misreported or difficult to follow—for example, zinc rose from 1% in January to 3% in February, rather than showing a decrease after February to March to 1%. To improve, give a clear overview of the main contrasts and report a smaller number of accurate, well-selected figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has an introductory sentence and separates the discussion into paragraphs about nickel, zinc and copper, so there is an attempt to organise the information. However, progression within the paragraphs is difficult to follow. The nickel account moves through many months in one long sequence, while phrases such as “then,” “after that” and “following that” are repeated without making the relationships clear. The overview is also placed in a separate paragraph but is not expressed coherently. Use a clearer structure: introduce the graph, summarise the overall pattern, then group the metals by comparable trends or describe each in a concise paragraph. Shorter sentences and more precise links between time periods would make the sequence easier to understand.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “monthly change,” “percentage,” “decreased,” “increased” and “stable,” and you attempt to vary descriptions with words such as “sharply” and “swift.” However, the range is limited and several choices or forms are inaccurate, sometimes making the trend unclear: “hasty increased,” “fixed in the prices,” “gaindecreased” and “fastly increased” are not natural ways to describe a graph. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “avereage,” “semtember” and “coppper.” Build a reliable set of trend verbs and adverbs, and check spelling. Prefer precise expressions such as “rose,” “fell,” “remained stable” and “recovered.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt to describe changes across several months and use some time clauses, but sentence structures are often incomplete or faulty, and errors frequently make the relationships between events hard to interpret. For example, “It is evident that the initial highest percentage in nickel and lowest percentage in zinc” has no complete main clause, while “january to march in the prices of nickel swift decreased” has an unclear subject and word order. Tense and sentence boundaries are also inconsistent, as in the long nickel sequence joined by repeated transitions. Practise complete subject–verb sentences such as “Nickel fell from 6% in January to 1% in March.” Use past tense consistently, and divide complex descriptions into shorter, correctly punctuated sentences.

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