Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-15
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 provided line graph compares the monthly change of the value of three types of metals including copper, nickel, and zinc across the year 2014.
Overall, nickel began dominating by the starting of the year and fluctuated over a decade before becoming the least changed valued metal by the end of the 1-year period, while zinc showed an opposite trend.
In terms of nickel, it started with 6% change compared to the previous month. By the February,
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which severely impacts the task achievement score. Because the essay is incomplete and cuts off mid-sentence, it fails to report on the main features or make the necessary comparisons for all three metals. The overview provided is also inaccurate, as it mentions a 'decade' when the graph only covers one year. To improve, you must ensure you complete the task by covering all data points and providing a full analysis of the trends, ensuring the response meets the minimum length requirement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is too short to demonstrate a coherent structure. While there is an attempt at an introduction and an overview, the abrupt ending prevents the development of a logical progression of ideas. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link the data points effectively. To improve, you should structure your response with a clear introduction, a summary of key features, and detailed body paragraphs that use linking words like 'whereas', 'in contrast', or 'subsequently' to guide the reader through the data.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is basic and contains some inaccuracies, such as 'dominating by the starting of the year' and 'least changed valued metal'. The range is limited due to the brevity of the text. To achieve a higher band, you should use more precise vocabulary related to data trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', 'remained stable', or 'experienced a downward trend'. Avoid awkward phrasing and ensure your word choices are natural and contextually appropriate for describing statistical data.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains grammatical errors, such as 'By the February' (incorrect article usage) and '1-year period' (which is slightly informal). The sentence structures are simple, and the unfinished nature of the text makes it impossible to assess a range of complex structures. To improve, focus on using accurate articles, correct prepositions, and a variety of sentence structures, such as complex sentences using subordinating conjunctions to compare the performance of the three metals.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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