Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-06
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 line graph illustrates the average monthly change in the prices of three metals during 2014. The data is calibrated in percentages.
Overall, nickel experienced a fluctuation in whole, while copper and zinc remained relatively the same and zinc accounted the highest price at the last month.
To begin with, nickel stood at 6% in January which was the greatest price difference compared to others metals before decreasing to 4% in February, then again fell to 1% in March, levelled out at 1% from March to April. After that, it plunged at -3%, remained the same during the three months. Finally, it recovered in the remaining months, reached 1%.
Turning to copper, it started at 1% and inclined in February then it continuously declined from February to June and reached -1%. Copper followed same as a nickel. It remained the intact between July to September. Subsequently, it recovered and accounted for 2% which was the highest among metals.
Moreover, Zinc witnessed of stay constant throughout the year, levelled out from 2% to approximately 1.5%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response provides a clear overview and selects key features, such as the initial high point of nickel and the final recovery of copper. However, the report is marred by significant inaccuracies in data interpretation. For instance, the claim that zinc 'stayed constant' at 2% to 1.5% is not supported by the graph, which shows zinc fluctuating significantly throughout the year. Furthermore, the description of copper's trend is confusing, stating it 'remained the intact' and then claiming it reached 2% as the highest, which contradicts the visual data. While the main features are identified, the lack of precision in reporting the data points limits the score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, overview, and body paragraphs focusing on specific metals. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Turning to', and 'Moreover' are used to signal transitions between ideas. However, the internal cohesion within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical or confusing. For example, the sentence 'Copper followed same as a nickel' is abrupt and lacks a clear logical link to the preceding information. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the progression of trends across the year.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, with attempts to use descriptive verbs like 'plunged', 'inclined', and 'recovered'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'fluctuation in whole', 'accounted the highest price', and 'remained the intact'. These errors occasionally impede the flow of the text. While the student attempts to use a variety of terms to describe trends, the lack of precision in these choices prevents the response from reaching a higher band. More careful attention to collocations would improve the clarity of the report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, including missing articles ('compared to others metals'), incorrect preposition usage ('witnessed of stay'), and subject-verb agreement issues. Some sentences are poorly constructed, such as 'zinc accounted the highest price at the last month', which lacks a preposition and correct tense usage. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors is noticeable and requires the reader to re-read certain sections to grasp the intended meaning. A greater focus on basic sentence construction and proofreading is recommended.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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