Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-01

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)

Metals are very popular every year but the price changes every year because of quality and quantity. In the given graph we have the information of the metals Copper, Nickel, and Zinc. In the month of january Nickle have the highest price among all three metals while zinc being on lowest but in february. The price of Nickle droping straight two percent and in next month 3 percent while Nickle rising from one percent to three and copper did not have much change in price. In the next four months. Nickle cost is reduced to -4 percent, Zinc's cost to -1 percent and Copper's to between both 0 and -1. From july to September the graph stays on the same rate Nickle on -1, copper on 1 percent and zinc between 0 and -1. There is not much change in october but in december the rates are relevant Nickle on 1 percent, copper on second and zinc on 2 percent. After i analayzed the data the most relevant percantage of the metals are in the month of December.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response attempts to describe the graph but fails to provide a clear overview or highlight the most significant trends. The description of the data is often inaccurate or confusing, such as stating 'Nickle droping straight two percent' without clear reference to the starting point or the specific month. The response lacks a logical summary of the main features, instead listing month-by-month changes in a way that is difficult to follow. To improve, you should identify the overall trends (e.g., which metal fluctuated the most) and group data logically rather than chronologically listing every minor change. The lack of a clear summary and the inaccurate reporting of data points significantly limit the achievement of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is written as a single paragraph, which makes it difficult to follow. There is a lack of logical progression; the transition between months is abrupt and often confusing. Cohesive devices are used in a very mechanical and repetitive way, such as the constant use of 'in the next' or 'in the month of'. The referencing is also unclear, as the reader often has to guess which metal is being discussed due to the lack of clear subject-verb agreement and poor sentence structure. To improve, use clear paragraphing to separate the overview from the detailed analysis and use a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. You rely on basic terms like 'price', 'change', and 'rate' throughout the text. There are also several spelling errors, such as 'Nickle' (Nickel), 'droping' (dropping), 'analayzed' (analyzed), and 'percantage' (percentage). The use of 'relevant' to describe the rates in December is also an incorrect word choice, as it does not accurately convey the meaning of the data. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise vocabulary related to trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', 'peaked', or 'declined', and ensure you spell technical terms correctly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'Nickle have', 'copper did not have'), incorrect verb tenses, and missing articles. Sentence structures are mostly simple and often fragmented, such as 'while zinc being on lowest but in february.' There is a lack of complex sentence structures, and the punctuation is inconsistent. To improve, focus on basic sentence construction, ensuring every sentence has a clear subject and a correctly conjugated verb. Practice using complex sentences with subordinating conjunctions to add variety and improve the flow of your writing.

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