Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-11

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 change in price compared with the pervious month of three different metals (' copper , nickel , zinc ') in all the months of the year 2014.

Overall it showed a comparison between the percentage change in the prices of metals from its previous month all over the year

First and foremost, the Nickel was on the top of the graph but then is showed a drastic downfall for next 5 months. Reached it's minimum in the month of the june from (5% to -3% ). Then it's price increased , and till the end of the year it reached at 1% but was the lowest among all three.

The copper metal also showed the same pattern as the nickel. The copper metal didn't showed that much decline. In the month of june and july it stayed on its lowest at -0.5 % and at the end it reached to 1.5 %. At last the zinc metal was the lowest at the starting but became the first at the end by reaching 2% from just 1 %.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have identified the main trends for the three metals, but the response lacks a clear overview of the data. While you mention that Nickel was at the top, you fail to provide a cohesive summary of the overall patterns or significant differences between the metals. The description of the data is somewhat mechanical, focusing on individual months rather than grouping trends. To improve, ensure you highlight the most significant features, such as the volatility of Nickel compared to the relative stability of Copper and Zinc, and provide a more comprehensive summary in the introduction.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes repetitive. Phrases like 'First and foremost' and 'At last' are used, but the transition between ideas is often abrupt. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the second paragraph where the connection between the overview and the body paragraphs is weak. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would enhance the flow and logical progression of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision required for a higher band. You rely on basic descriptors like 'top', 'downfall', and 'lowest'. There are also some minor errors in word choice and phrasing, such as 'pervious' (previous) and 'copper metal' (the word 'metal' is redundant here). To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'plummeted', 'stabilised', or 'marginal increase'. Avoid repeating the same words to describe the movement of the lines.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There are several grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'is showed a drastic downfall' (should be 'it showed'), 'Reached it's minimum' (should be 'reached its'), and 'The copper metal didn't showed' (should be 'did not show'). You rely mostly on simple sentence structures. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of complex sentence structures, such as using relative clauses or subordinating conjunctions (e.g., 'While Nickel experienced a sharp decline, Zinc showed a steady upward trend'). Pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and verb tense consistency.

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