Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-18
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)
This line graph illustrates the average monthly changes in the prices of three metals including copper, nickel and zinc during 2014. The prices of metals are fluctuating and experiencing a significant rise and fall.
Overall, the the nickel price is experiencing a sharp decline from the month of January to June, while the cost of zinc is steadily increase overall the year.
First of all, the price of nickel in January shows highest percentage and sharply decrease in four months and in the month of July to September it remains unchanged. After that in month of October it falls steadily and then increase to 1% from -2%.
In case of copper , the price has been steadily decreased from 2% to approximately 1.5% overall the year. At
last, the price of zinc has been increased slowly from 1% to 2% across the year. However in the month of June it face a steady decline to -1% and then it gets stabilize.
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, identifying the trends for copper, nickel, and zinc. However, the analysis is somewhat inconsistent. For instance, the description of nickel's fluctuations is confusing, and the claim that zinc 'steadily increase overall the year' is contradicted by the mention of a decline in June. While the overview is present, it lacks precision in summarizing the overall trends. The data points mentioned are sometimes unclear, such as the reference to '1% from -2%', which makes it difficult for the reader to follow the specific movements of the metal prices. More careful selection and grouping of data would improve the clarity of the report.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate. Phrases like 'First of all' and 'At last' are not ideal for an academic report, which typically requires more formal transitions like 'Regarding the price of nickel' or 'In contrast'. Additionally, the referencing is sometimes unclear, such as the transition between sentences describing the same metal. The logical progression is present but could be smoother with more varied and sophisticated linking words to connect the trends described.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward phrasing or incorrect word choices, such as 'overall the year' instead of 'throughout the year' and 'gets stabilize' instead of 'stabilized'. The student relies on basic descriptive terms like 'rise', 'fall', and 'increase'. To improve, the student should incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'plummeted', 'remained stable', or 'gradual decline'. Spelling is generally accurate, but the lack of lexical variety limits the score.
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 subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'the nickel price is experiencing', 'zinc is steadily increase'), incorrect tense usage (e.g., 'it face a steady decline'), and missing articles. The sentence structure is often repetitive, relying on similar patterns. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on consistent tense usage—specifically the past tense for data from 2014—would significantly improve the accuracy of the report.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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