Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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)

The graph illustrates the average monthly change in the prices of three metals during 2014. These data are given as a percentage.

Overall, it is clear that nickel decreased significantly over the given period. Nickel recorded at the lowest value in this chart. Zinc increased gradually over the given period.

Nickel began at 6% highest value in this graph in january. Nickel declined dramatically stayed at 1% in march. After this period nickel dropped again at -3% in june. Nickel increased significantly reached 1% in december.

On the other hand, copper started at 2% in january 2014. After some minnor fluctuations copper remained stable almost 1.9% in december. Zinc began at the least point at 1% in january 2014. Zinc rose approximatially at 3% in feburary. After this peaked zinc decreased slightly at -1% in june. After some minnor fluctuations zinc value remained same in october. After this period zinc grow again stayed at 2% in december 2014.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the three metals and include an overview, then report several key movements, especially nickel’s sharp fall to a low in June and its recovery by December. However, the overview is incomplete and partly inaccurate: nickel did not decrease throughout the period, and zinc did not rise gradually overall, since it fell into negative territory mid-year before recovering. Some figures are also misreported: copper ended at about 1.5%, not 1.9%, and zinc was around -1% in October rather than remaining unchanged. The response is 146 words, below the required 150, and the 12 words copied from the prompt do not count. Add a fuller overview and accurate comparisons across the year.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate discussion of nickel and the other metals. This helps the reader follow the main subjects, and phrases such as “On the other hand” signal a contrast. However, progression within the body is sometimes abrupt, with repeated short statements beginning “After this period” or “After some minor fluctuations.” The overview also does not prepare the reader accurately for the detailed account, particularly for zinc’s mid-year decline and later recovery. Grouping the metals by shared stages—early changes, the mid-year fall, and the year-end recovery—would create a clearer progression. Use linking expressions selectively and make each paragraph develop one connected comparison.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing trends, including “declined dramatically,” “dropped,” “increased significantly,” and “fluctuations.” These choices make the general direction of several movements understandable. However, the range is limited and some expressions are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “recorded at the lowest value,” “rose approximatially,” and “zinc value remained same.” Spelling errors, including “minnor,” “feburary,” and “approximatially,” are noticeable and reduce precision. Choose standard collocations such as “reached a low of” and “rose to approximately,” and check spelling carefully. More precise terms for the size and direction of changes would also help distinguish a slight movement from a sharp fall.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

Most sentences communicate a basic trend, and you attempt some variation through contrast and time clauses. However, the response relies heavily on simple sentence patterns, while several attempted constructions are incomplete or incorrectly formed. For example, “Nickel declined dramatically stayed at 1% in March” needs a connector or a separate clause, and “After this peaked zinc decreased” lacks a clear grammatical subject for “peaked.” Articles and sentence structure are also problematic in “Nickel began at 6% highest value.” These errors recur and sometimes make relationships between events unclear. Practise combining clauses accurately—for example, “After peaking in February, zinc fell to -1% in June”—and check verb forms, articles, and punctuation.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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