Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-17

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 given line graph illustrates the average monthly changes in the price of copper, nickel and zinc in 2014.

Overall, it is readily apparent that although fluctuations was witnessed in all three categories, nickel showed the significant changes and copper remained comparatively stable for most of the months. Meanwhile, all three metals experienced a recovery by the end of the period

.

To begin with, in January, the figure for nickel stood at 6 percent before decreasing continuously to 4 percent in the next month and reached 1percent in March. After that, this figure plunged rapidly to -3 percent in June, which is the lowest point of nickel. The of the nickel started rising in July and accounted for -1 percent, after which it was stable until September. Despite dropping in October, the figure escalated to 1percent in November, where it was unchanged till December.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. Furthermore, the content is incomplete; while you describe nickel in detail, you have completely omitted the data for copper and zinc, which were required to be reported and compared. The overview is present but lacks the necessary depth to cover all three metals effectively. To improve, ensure you provide a balanced summary that includes key trends for all items mentioned in the prompt, and always check that your response meets the minimum length requirement to avoid a penalty.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response uses some cohesive devices such as 'To begin with' and 'Meanwhile' to link ideas. However, the paragraphing is underdeveloped, and the transition between the overview and the body paragraph is abrupt. Because the report is incomplete and lacks a logical progression for all three metals, the overall structure feels fragmented. To improve, ensure that each metal is discussed in a structured manner, perhaps by grouping trends or comparing them directly, and use a wider variety of cohesive devices to connect sentences and paragraphs more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fluctuations', 'plunged', and 'escalated' appropriately. However, there are some minor errors in word choice and phrasing, such as 'the figure for nickel' being repeated and the awkward phrasing 'The of the nickel'. The range is somewhat limited due to the brevity of the response. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise synonyms for movement and change, and ensure that your collocations are natural and accurate throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some noticeable grammatical errors, such as 'fluctuations was witnessed' (subject-verb agreement) and '1percent' (spacing issues). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the overall accuracy. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and proofread for minor mechanical errors like spacing and punctuation. Increasing the variety of complex structures while maintaining accuracy will help you achieve a higher band score.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.