Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-13

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)

The provided line graph illustrates the average monthly variation in the price of copper, zinc and nickel in 2014.

Overall, it can be seen that the price of nickel was highest in the beginning and showed too much fluctuation through out the month and ended up lower than others. While copper and zinc showed less variation and price was higher than other two in december.

First of all, the price of nickel was 6% in january and reduced drastically reduced to 4% in february and then to 1% in march, after that it remained same in april before dropping to its lowest -3% in june it gently reduced to 0.5% in may. Moreover, in july it surged to -1% and stayed stable in august september. With little depression of -2% in october it rose to 1% in november and remained same in december.

Furthermore, copper started from 1% in january

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

The response identifies a relevant overall pattern: nickel begins at the highest level and fluctuates more, while copper and zinc vary less. However, the report is incomplete and only minimally covers the graph. It gives a detailed account of nickel but stops after “copper started from 1% in january,” with no account of copper’s later movement or zinc’s trend. The overview also says prices were higher for copper and zinc in December, but does not clearly compare their actual changes with nickel’s, which finished at 1% while copper was about 1.5% and zinc about 2%. Some nickel details are inaccurate: its June fall is followed by a rise to -1% in July, not a surge in price in the ordinary sense. Select and summarise the main trends for all three metals, checking each figure against the graph.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is some organisation: an introduction is followed by an overview and then a paragraph beginning “First of all” that describes nickel. “Moreover” and “Furthermore” also signal additions. However, progression is limited because nearly all detailed reporting is devoted to nickel, and the final paragraph begins a copper description but does not develop it or move on to zinc. The sequence within the nickel account is also confusing: the May figure is mentioned after the June low, interrupting the month-by-month order. Use separate, balanced paragraphs to group the metals or compare their shared rises and falls, and keep each trend in chronological order. Clearer links between the overview and the supporting details would make the report easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The response uses an adequate range of vocabulary for describing a graph, including “variation,” “reduced,” “remained,” “dropping,” and “surged.” These choices generally make the intended trends understandable, and “fluctuation” is a useful term for nickel’s changing figures. Some word choices and collocations are imprecise, however: “showed too much fluctuation” is subjective, “little depression” is not a natural description of a fall in a figure, and “price was higher than other two” is unclear. Repetition of “reduced” also limits variety. Prefer neutral, precise reporting language such as “fluctuated considerably,” “fell slightly,” and “recorded a higher monthly change.” Check spelling and spacing in “through out” and “january” as well.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more complex sentences, including the contrast beginning “While copper and zinc…” and the sequence “after that it remained same in april before dropping…”. However, errors are frequent enough to make some sentences awkward or unclear. For example, “reduced drastically reduced to 4%” repeats the verb, while “it remained same” is missing an article and “it gently reduced to 0.5% in may” has an unclear reference and disrupts the timeline. The overview’s “price was higher than other two” also lacks an article before “other two.” Use consistent past-tense reporting, check articles and pronoun references, and punctuate long sequences as separate sentences. More controlled complex sentences would improve accuracy and readability.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.