Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-12

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 lilne graph illustrates the percentages of change in price on copper, nickel and zinc compared with previous month in the year of 2014.

Overall, it can be seen that

In details, the proportion of change in price of Copper was at 2% in january. However, this figure then fall sharply to about -1% before a steadi rise in july to 1%. Meanwhile, the price remain unchanged before experiencing fall and rise from 0% to 1.5% in december. In contrast, Nickel which had the highest percentage among three in january stood at 6% although this figure then declined dramatically and flactuated throughout the given period, starting from 6% in january to 1% in december.

Moving on Zinc,in january, Zinc

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

The response identifies some relevant figures, including copper at 2% in January and nickel at 6%, and notes nickel’s overall decline to 1% in December. However, the overview is left unfinished (“Overall, it can be seen that”), and the account stops partway through the zinc description (“In january, Zinc”), so the main features of all three metals are not summarised. There are also inaccuracies: copper falls only to about -0.5%, not -1%, and its July rise is to 1%; the claim that it remained unchanged before falling and rising is unclear. The response is 119 words, below the required 150. Complete the overview and report the key movements for zinc as well as copper and nickel.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response, with an opening, a separate overview paragraph, and a detailed paragraph. Connectors such as “However,” “Meanwhile,” and “In contrast” show an effort to relate information. However, the overview contains no information, and the final paragraph ends abruptly after “In january, Zinc,” leaving the report without a complete progression or conclusion. The detailed paragraph also moves between metals without consistently grouping comparable trends, and “In details” is not a natural transition. Use a completed overview to establish the main pattern, then organise the body into clear comparisons, ensuring each paragraph and sentence is finished.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The response uses a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “percentages of change,” “declined dramatically,” “fluctuated,” and “steady rise.” These choices help communicate trends, and the meaning is generally recoverable despite several spelling and word-choice problems. For example, “lilne,” “flactuated,” and “steadi” are misspelled, while “the proportion of change in price” is an awkward way to describe a percentage change. “Fall and rise” is also imprecise for describing the copper series. Aim for accurate, natural collocations such as “monthly price change” and “rose to,” and proofread spelling. More precise trend vocabulary would help distinguish a fall, a fluctuation, and a recovery.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a contrast clause beginning “although” and a sentence using “before experiencing.” Some sentence structures communicate the intended trends, but errors remain in verb forms and sentence construction. For example, “this figure then fall” should use a past-tense verb, and “the price remain unchanged” also needs past-tense agreement. The opening phrase “compared with previous month” is missing an article, while “In details” is not correctly formed. The unfinished overview and final zinc sentence also prevent the response from demonstrating complete sentence control. Check past-tense consistency and articles, and make sure every sentence has a complete main clause.

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