Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-14

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 illustrates the average monthly change in price of copper, nickel and zinc (2014)

Overall, copper prices had increased significantly, while the proportion of nickel is fluctuate.Meanwhlie, zinc prices was in 2014 between up and down.

Initially, in January the percentage of copper prices was 2%, whereas in June percentage was diminish and the percentage of December was again rose up just 1.9%.

Furthermore, the percentage of nickel prices had the highest figure in January was 6%,while percentage in June was decrease only -3%. In addition, the percentage in June and October remain same was -1%. In last month, the percentage of nickel again rose up was 1%.

Ultimately, the percentage of zinc had second highest recorded in February was 3%, whereas the percentage of zinc had steadily decrease between June and October was -1%.At the end, the percentage of last month was again increasing just 2% respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify all three metals and include several relevant figures, such as nickel’s January peak of 6%, its June low of -3%, and zinc’s February high of 3%. However, the overview is unclear and does not accurately summarise the main pattern: copper did not increase significantly overall, but stayed within a relatively narrow range, while nickel and zinc both fell into negative territory mid-year and recovered towards December. Some details are also inaccurate or confusing: copper was about -0.5% in June, not simply described as diminishing, and nickel was -1% from July to September, not in June and October. Develop a clearer overview and compare the metals’ contrasting ranges and shared recovery.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an opening, an overview, and separate sections covering the metals. This gives the reader a basic route through the information, and linking expressions such as “Furthermore” and “In addition” show attempts to connect details. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes difficult to follow because the comparisons and time references are not consistently organised. For example, “In addition, the percentage in June and October remain same was -1%” is unclear about which metal is being discussed and misorders the information. Use one paragraph to compare the early-year movements and another for the mid-year fall and recovery, with clear references such as “nickel” or “zinc” rather than repeated “the percentage.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “average monthly change,” “highest figure,” and “steadily decrease,” and the reader can generally identify the metals and months being discussed. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, which makes parts of the report awkward or unclear. Phrases such as “the proportion of nickel,” “prices was in 2014 between up and down,” and “rose up” do not describe changes in prices naturally. There are also spelling errors, including “Meanwhlie.” Aim for precise trend language and vary verbs such as “rise,” “fall,” “remain stable,” and “recover,” while using “percentage change” rather than “proportion” for the graph’s measure.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including comparisons with “whereas,” but control is inconsistent. Errors in verb forms and agreement occur repeatedly: “the proportion of nickel is fluctuate,” “zinc prices was,” and “the percentage … was decrease” should use forms such as “fluctuated,” “were,” and “decreased.” Some sentence patterns are difficult to interpret, particularly “the percentage of December was again rose up,” where the subject and verb construction are unclear. Punctuation also needs attention: several sentences run directly into the next clause without a space after a comma or full stop. Practise building accurate past-tense sentences around the metal as the subject, for example, “Nickel fell to -3% in June before recovering.”

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