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 graph illustrates the average monthly change in the prices of three metals such as copper, nickel, and zinc in 2014. The figures are given as percentages.

Overall, in the first month the change in prices was highest in nickel and it fluctuated throughout the year and reached to lowest from other metal in december. Meanwhile, copper was the sesond highest and remained almost stable while the least change in price occured in zinc in january and then experienced the highest in the last month.

Initially, the change in price in nickel was 6% in januaryand then decreased to 1% in march while in june it dramatically declined to _3% likewise, they fluctuated in the whole year in reached to 1% in december. Conversely, at the begining the ratio of copper was 2% and then decreased to almost _1% in march, in july it slightly increased to 1% and then rose to almost 2% in december.

Lastly, the zinc was started from 1% in january and then the figure decreased to around _1% in may and then reachhed to 2% in december.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the three metals and give a broad overview of their contrasting patterns, including nickel’s high starting point and copper’s relative stability. However, some key details are inaccurate or unclear. Nickel fell to about 1% in March, but its lowest point was around -3% in June; it then recovered unevenly and ended at about 1%. Copper did not fall to -1% in March: it was around 0.5%, and its December figure was about 1.5%, not almost 2%. Zinc’s lowest point was around -1% in June, rather than May. The overview also says zinc had the least change in January, although copper was higher and nickel much higher. Select the main turning points more accurately and compare the metals across the middle and final months.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate descriptions of the metals. This makes the information generally easy to follow, and linking expressions such as “Meanwhile,” “Conversely,” and “Lastly” help signal shifts. However, the progression is sometimes weakened by unclear or mechanically joined clauses, particularly “they fluctuated in the whole year in reached to 1% in december.” The overview also groups several comparisons together without making the relationships fully clear. Organise the body around shared stages—early changes, the mid-year falls, and the year-end recovery—rather than describing each line in isolation. Use linking words only where they express a clear relationship, and make pronoun references explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “fluctuated,” “declined,” “increased,” and “remained almost stable,” so the reader can understand the general trends. However, the range is limited and some word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “reached to lowest from other metal” and “the zinc was started from.” Spelling errors, including “sesond,” “begining,” and “reachhed,” also reduce accuracy. Use precise terms for changes and comparisons, and check spelling carefully. For example, describe a value as reaching a low point or being the lowest among the three metals, rather than using an unclear comparison. Avoid repeating “then” by varying the language used to report successive movements.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentences, and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. However, errors occur frequently in sentence construction and verb forms, which sometimes make relationships difficult to follow. For example, “the zinc was started from 1%” uses an incorrect passive construction, while “in reached to 1%” is not a complete grammatical clause. There are also problems with articles and sentence boundaries, as in “the zinc was started” and the long sentence beginning “Initially, the change in price in nickel…”. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and use clear subject–verb structures, such as “Nickel fell to…” and “Zinc began at…”. Break longer sentences into shorter, controlled clauses and proofread punctuation.

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