Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-07-31
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 illustrate the average monthly changes in the price of copper, nickel and zinc in the year of 2014.
Firstly, in the month of January you can see the higher spike was six percentage and then gradua decreased to 1% in the month of march. Moreover, the copper metal was started from two percentage than fluctue till month of June, and then there has been slight increased and came at 1% till the september. Furthermore on Zinc metal it was start from one percentage in Month of January and then rise up to 3% in fabruary and there was downfall in the month of march and it reached to -1%. Secondly in Nickel metal were all time low in june month and then next three month was consisted to -1%.
Overall, Nickel metal was reached all time high in jun, apart from that other two metal fluctuated from starting month to ending end december month.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response attempts to summarize the graph but fails to provide a clear overview of the main trends. While it identifies some data points, the description is fragmented and lacks a cohesive comparison between the three metals. The report focuses on listing individual fluctuations rather than synthesizing the information to highlight key features, such as the overall volatility or the specific peaks and troughs. The data reporting is also inaccurate in places, such as the claim that Nickel reached an 'all time high' in June, which contradicts the visual data. To improve, you should focus on identifying the most significant trends and comparing the metals' performances throughout the year rather than listing month-by-month changes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inappropriate, such as the repetitive use of 'in the month of' and 'and then'. The transition between ideas is often abrupt, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison. For example, the shift from describing Copper to Zinc is disjointed. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus, such as grouping trends by similarities or contrasting the most volatile metal against the most stable one.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic terms like 'increase', 'decrease', and 'fluctuate'. There are several spelling errors, such as 'gradua' (gradually), 'fabruary' (February), and 'jun' (June). Additionally, word choice is often inaccurate, such as 'the higher spike was six percentage', which should be 'the highest peak was 6%'. The phrasing 'all time low' is used incorrectly to describe a single month's data point. To achieve a higher score, you need to use more precise terminology for describing trends, such as 'peaked at', 'dipped to', or 'remained relatively stable', and ensure accurate spelling of basic terms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('The line graph illustrate'), incorrect verb tenses ('copper metal was started'), and awkward sentence structures ('there has been slight increased and came at 1%'). The use of articles is also inconsistent. The range of structures is limited to simple sentences, with few attempts at complex grammatical forms. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring consistent verb tenses when describing past data, and practicing the correct use of prepositions and articles in data reporting.
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