Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The above graph plots the data for three metals that is very commonly used in many industries.
In the year 2014 metals like copper, nickel and zinc have their price changed on a regular basis with rates that are quite high too which can show their high demands.
The line graph of nickel and copper have similar shape just magnitude is different. It can be observed that from the beginning of the they had their price change at 2% and 6% respectively. After that their was a decrease in the price for the next few months. After that the price change remained constant for a few months. Then the months following it the metal became more cheaper and then towards the end of the year there was a price hike.
Zinc roughly followed a pattern that was a bit similar but different in a few aspects. First we could se there being a price hike in February increasing from 1% to 3%. There has been a constant dip in price for the rest of the year. There was no plateau as there was for rest of the metals. Though there was a price hike at the end of the year.
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 addresses the task by identifying the main features of the graph, such as the trends for copper, nickel, and zinc. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you mention the starting points and the general direction of the lines, you fail to provide specific data points or clear comparisons between the metals. For example, you mention 'magnitude is different' but do not specify the values. To reach a higher band, you should integrate more precise data from the graph to support your descriptions and ensure that the 'main features' are highlighted more clearly rather than just describing the lines chronologically.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. Phrases like 'After that' are used multiple times in quick succession, which disrupts the flow. Additionally, the transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs could be smoother. While there is a logical progression from one metal to the next, the lack of varied linking words makes the writing feel a bit disjointed. Improving the range of transition signals would significantly enhance the overall coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. You rely on basic descriptors such as 'similar shape', 'constant dip', and 'price hike'. There are also some awkward collocations and errors, such as 'the metal became more cheaper' (which is grammatically incorrect; it should be 'cheaper') and 'magnitude is different'. To improve, you should aim to use more sophisticated vocabulary related to trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', 'a marginal increase', or 'a significant decline'. Expanding your range of descriptive adjectives and adverbs will help convey the data more accurately.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
There is a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but the accuracy is inconsistent. You have several grammatical errors, such as 'the line graph of nickel and copper have similar shape' (should be 'has a similar shape') and 'their was a decrease' (should be 'there was'). The phrase 'the beginning of the they had' is also unclear and contains a missing noun. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to lower the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct article usage will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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