Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-10

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)

A quick glance at the graph it illustrate how much price affected to three different metals such as copper, nickel and zinc in 2014.

As first two months, Nickel's price had the most percentage change . However, starting from March nickel price percentage dropped to 1 and it constantly stayed stable until May. Similarly, Copper price had not been affected significantly from 2% to 0.5% during first 5 months. However, Zinc price in change increased to 3% in February but it drop gradually to -1% in June when other two metals also decreased but nickel price have been shown to -3%. Furthermore, in late half of the year first three months the three metals price did not affected. Since October, zinc and nickel's price affect rose substantially by 2%,vica versus copper price percentage drop slightly by 0.5%. In December, the most affected price was zinc and the least was nickel's price.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the three metals and report several relevant movements, including nickel’s high starting point, its fall to around -3% in June, and the general recovery towards year-end. However, the response only partially summarises the graph: it has no clear overall overview of the main pattern, and some comparisons are inaccurate or unclear. For example, nickel did not remain stable from March to May: it fell from about 1% to 0.5%. The claim that zinc and nickel rose by 2% since October also misses their October declines and November recovery. The final comparison is incorrect: in December copper was about 1.5%, zinc 2%, and nickel 1%, so nickel was not uniquely the least affected. Select the main trends and report them precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has some organisation: it moves broadly from the early months to the middle and then the end of the year, and linking words such as “However,” “Similarly,” and “Furthermore” show attempts to connect points. Nevertheless, there is no distinct overview, and the progression is difficult to follow in places. The sentence beginning “Furthermore, in late half of the year first three months” makes the time period unclear, while “Since October” does not clearly connect the October figures with the November and December recovery. Several transitions are used mechanically or introduce contrasts that are not fully explained. Group the information into a clear overview and chronological or trend-based paragraphs, using precise time references and comparisons.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “percentage change,” “gradually,” “stable,” and “substantially.” However, the range is limited, and repeated reliance on “affected” does not accurately describe price movements. Phrases such as “how much price affected” and “the most affected price” are difficult to interpret, while “vica versus” appears to be an inaccurate expression. There are also word-form and collocation problems, such as “in change increased” and “price percentage drop.” Aim for standard graph language that distinguishes a price change from the price itself: for example, say that a figure “rose,” “fell,” “remained stable,” or “recovered,” and use “monthly change” or “percentage change” consistently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt longer sentences with subordinate clauses and contrast, but the structures are often faulty, and errors occur throughout. The opening lacks a subject-verb structure (“A quick glance at the graph it illustrate”), and there are problems with articles and prepositions in “As first two months.” Verb forms and agreement are also inconsistent: “it drop,” “nickel price have been shown,” and “did not affected” should use correctly formed verbs. Some sentences combine several ideas without clear grammatical control, which makes the timeline and comparisons harder to understand. Practise building accurate simple sentences first, then add clauses with “while,” “whereas,” or “although.” Check subject-verb agreement, past-tense forms, and sentence boundaries during revision.

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