Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The graph illustrates the monthly change in the prices of copper, nickel and zinc metals by 2014.

Overall, the graph showed up and down over the period. Nickel was started the highest average and end the lowest proportion, whereas the Copper and zinc were almost same started and ended ratio.

In january, the copper was started at 6%, while from february to june, it show fell sharply, at approximately -3. In july, august and september the nickel had recorded the equal percentage at almost -1. The ratio for nickel stood at -2% in october. In nevember and december, again measured the same figure, at around 1%.

From january to april, the copper and zinc reported the percentage at 0.5 and 1.5 respectively. In june and july the figure for copper was approximately -0.5% and 1%, and followed by 1% in august and september, around 0.5 in october and 2% in nevember and december. From june to october, the zinc at -1. In nevember and december, it were increased the percentage at 1.5 and 2.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

The response attempts to describe all three metals and includes an overview, noting that nickel began highest and that the lines fluctuated. However, the overview is unclear and partly inaccurate: nickel did not finish lowest, as copper ended at about 1.5%, while nickel and zinc both ended near 1–2%. Several key figures are also assigned to the wrong metal. Copper began at about 2%, not 6%, and its fall was modest; the sharp fall to around −3% in June belongs to nickel. The claim that copper and zinc were at 0.5% and 1.5% from January to April does not accurately summarise those months. Select the main peaks, troughs and overall patterns, and check each figure against its series.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic paragraph structure: an introduction and overview are followed by details about nickel and then copper and zinc. This gives the reader some organisation, and time markers such as “In january” and “In june and july” help locate information. However, the progression is difficult to follow because the account shifts between metals and months, and some references are unclear—for example, “the figure” and “the ratio” do not always identify the series. Linking phrases such as “whereas” and “From…to…” are attempted, but the sequence of comparisons is not consistently logical. Group the metals or the main phases more systematically, and use clear subject references in each sentence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses some relevant chart vocabulary, including “percentage,” “approximately,” “recorded,” and “increased,” so the topic is generally recognisable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, which sometimes makes the meaning hard to interpret. Examples include “started the highest average,” “end the lowest proportion,” and “reported the percentage”; more natural descriptions would be “began at the highest rate,” “ended at the lowest level,” and “recorded a change of.” There are also spelling errors in “january” and “nevember,” and “metals” is unnecessary after naming the three metals. Use precise terms such as “monthly change,” “rise,” “fall,” “peak,” and “remain stable.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more extended sentences, including a comparison with “whereas” and time clauses beginning “From January to April.” However, grammatical errors are frequent and sometimes make relationships between figures unclear. For example, “Nickel was started the highest average and end the lowest proportion” has faulty verb forms and an incomplete parallel structure; “it show fell sharply” also combines incompatible verb forms. Subject–verb agreement and articles are inconsistent in phrases such as “the zinc at -1” and “it were increased.” Most sentences follow a basic pattern, with limited accurate control of more complex structures. Practise past-tense reporting and consistent sentence frames, such as “Nickel fell to…” and “Zinc rose to…”.

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

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