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 illustration depicts average monthly change in costs of three metals during the period of 2014.
Overall, the graph shows change in prices of three types of metals, including copper, nickel and zinc. In addition, at the start of the year nickel was most expensive, while the zinc was the cheapest. However, it was vice versa by the end of the year.
The price of nickel was increased more than the other metals in the month of January and February. However, in the month of March, April, and May, the cost of zinc was at the peak, followed by nickel, while the price of copper was decreased slightly. Nevertheless, the copper was expensive than the zinc and nickel in June, July, August, September, and October. In the last two months, zinc was again more costly than the copper and nickel.
In conclusion, although the prices of all three metals were changes through out the year, most of the months copper was more expensive than the nickel and zinc.
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 covers the main features of the graph, but the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you identify the general trends, the description of the data is occasionally inaccurate or confusing, such as the claim that nickel was the most expensive at the start of the year, which is not clearly supported by the provided graph. The overview is present but lacks a clear synthesis of the most significant trends. To improve, ensure you focus on the most striking features, such as the volatility of zinc compared to the relative stability of copper, rather than listing month-by-month changes, which can lead to a disjointed report.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly unnatural, such as the repetitive use of 'However' and 'In addition'. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the referencing between sentences could be smoother. For example, the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is abrupt. Using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that pronouns or referencing phrases clearly point back to the subject matter would improve the flow and cohesion of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. You rely heavily on simple terms like 'expensive', 'costly', and 'change'. There are also some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'the price of nickel was increased' (should be 'increased' or 'rose') and 'the copper was expensive than the zinc' (should be 'more expensive than'). To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise terminology related to trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', 'remained stable', or 'experienced a downward trend', and ensure correct comparative structures.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include incorrect verb forms ('prices of all three metals were changes'), missing articles ('the zinc was the cheapest'), and errors in comparative structures ('copper was expensive than the zinc'). While the meaning is generally understandable, these errors occur throughout the text. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of comparative adjectives will help improve your accuracy. You should also aim to vary your sentence structure more intentionally to demonstrate better control over complex grammar.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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