Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-10
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 illustrates the percentage of the price change for three metals with previous month during 2014.
Examining the detail of a nickel, the proportion of a nickel metal was noted the fluctuation from 6% to 1%, showing a sharp drop over the period. The prices of nickel was observed dramatic decline in month of June at the level of -3. After that, showed minimal rise and stay stable between July and September.
Although copper recorded fluctuation, it reached its level throughout the period. The figure observed a fall from 2% to nearly -1% in the month of June, it reached the original level of price in December.
However, a zinc followed similar pattern compare to copper. The proportion of a zinc recorded the value of 1% less compared to January.
Overall, all metals showed decline compared to previous month. Nickel was dominant sector at the first, it took by zinc after the following month.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the graph, but the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you identify trends for nickel, copper, and zinc, the description of the data is occasionally inaccurate or confusing. For instance, stating that 'all metals showed decline' is a generalization that does not accurately reflect the fluctuations shown in the graph. Furthermore, the comparison between metals is underdeveloped. To improve, ensure you clearly distinguish between the starting and ending points and highlight the most significant peaks and troughs rather than listing individual months without clear context. The overview provided at the end is a good attempt, but it should ideally be placed after the introduction to provide a clearer summary of the main trends.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally misused. For example, the transition 'Although copper recorded fluctuation' does not logically connect to the subsequent sentence about the price level. Additionally, some referencing is unclear, such as 'it took by zinc', which makes the relationship between the metals difficult to follow. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that pronouns clearly refer back to the correct subjects would significantly enhance the flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision. You rely on repetitive phrasing such as 'the proportion of a nickel' and 'the figure observed a fall'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'nickel was dominant sector at the first'. To achieve a higher band score, try to use more varied and precise terminology related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', 'witnessed a sharp decline', or 'reached a plateau'. Expanding your vocabulary to include more specific descriptors for trends will make your writing more professional and accurate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include missing articles (e.g., 'in month of June'), incorrect verb forms (e.g., 'prices of nickel was observed'), and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'it took by zinc'). While the meaning is generally understandable, these errors are persistent. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. Proofreading for basic sentence construction will help you reduce these errors and improve the overall accuracy of your work.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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