Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The line graph below illustrates the prices of different metals copper, nickel, zinc, that changes their prices every month in the year 2014. The percentage of prices of the metals varies in different months.

At first, the copper had 2% of price change in january, it slowly decreased to -0.5% in may and suddenly increased to 1% from june to september, then had a low trend in october and made a comeback reached to 1.5% in december.

While coming to nickel there is a dratastical fell 6% in january to -3% in june and after some fluctution rose to 1% by the end of the december.

At last, the zinc raised its price in to 3% in febraury and follow the same trend as the nickel, fell to -1% in june and after some ups and downs reached to 2% by end of the year.

We can conclude that the all metals of prices are dropped in june, there is no change in july, august, and september and rised by the

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the three metals and report several relevant movements, including nickel’s fall from 6% in January to -3% in June and zinc’s rise to 3% in February. However, the response only partly summarises the graph: it gives little clear overview of the metals’ contrasting patterns, and some details are inaccurate. Copper falls to -0.5% in May, not June, and its recovery to 1% begins in July. The conclusion that there is “no change” from July to September is incorrect: nickel and zinc remain below zero in those months, while copper is at 1%. The final sentence is also unfinished, leaving the year-end comparison incomplete. Select the main highs, lows and shared turning points, and check each claim against the graph.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic sequence: an introduction, a paragraph for each metal, and a concluding statement. Transitions such as “While coming to nickel” and “At last” help signal movement between series, so the reader can generally follow the intended order. However, the organisation is mostly a list of metals rather than a clear comparison of the main trends, and the conclusion does not complete its point (“rised by the”). Some linking is also awkward or repetitive, and the opening repeats the idea that prices change. Group the information into a clear overview and comparison of major movements, then use concise links to show contrasts and shared changes.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “percentage,” “decreased,” “increased,” “fluctuation,” and “trend,” which allows you to describe movement in the graph. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or unclear, such as “had 2% of price change,” “dratastical fell,” and “made a comeback reached.” Spelling errors including “january,” “febraury,” and “fluctution” also reduce accuracy. Use precise chart language and vary the verbs for rises and falls, while checking spelling and natural combinations of words. For example, describe a figure as a “monthly price change” and say that a value “recovered to” a percentage.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to connect events in longer sentences using “and,” “then,” and “while,” but control is inconsistent. Several sentences contain faulty structures, for example, “the copper had 2% of price change” and “there is a dratastical fell 6% in january to -3% in june.” The final sentence is incomplete, and the conclusion’s “all metals of prices are dropped” has an unclear grammatical relationship between subject and verb. Tense and article use also need attention when describing past data. Practise forming complete past-tense sentences with a clear subject and verb, such as “Copper fell to -0.5% in May, then recovered to 1% in July.”

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