Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-23

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 graph illustrate the changes in the cost of Copper, Nickel and Zinc in 2014. Changes are observed in percentage.

Overall, a high fluctuation is observed in the price of Nickel. However, a minor difference is observed in the price of Copper and Zinc in start and end of the given period.

The rate of Nickel begin with a highest value in the start of the year that is 6. However, a significant drop is observed in the next 2 month as the value drop from 6 to 4 in February and ended with 1 in March. Minor different is observed in next two years. A major drop is observed again as the number dropped to -3 in June. Whereas, the value rise up again and reach to -1 in July and remain same for next months till September. After a minor drop in October the price increased and reached up to 1 and no change is observed afterwards. The cost of Copper and Zinc started with 2 and 1, ended with 1 and 2 respectively and fluctuations are observed in between.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the graph, identifying the trends for the three metals. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For instance, the description of Nickel's fluctuations is quite detailed, but the summary of Copper and Zinc is underdeveloped, merely stating the start and end points without highlighting the specific trends or key turning points in between. The overview is present but could be more analytical by grouping the metals based on their volatility. While all parts of the task are addressed, the lack of precise comparison between the metals limits the score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is generally clear. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and mechanical, relying heavily on simple transitions like 'However' and 'Whereas'. Some referencing is slightly unclear, such as 'next two years' (the data is only for 2014), which creates confusion. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect the data points more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There is a reliance on basic verbs like 'is observed', 'drop', and 'increase'. While the student successfully uses terms like 'fluctuation' and 'percentage', the range is limited. There are also some word choice errors, such as 'The rate of Nickel begin with a highest value', where 'rate' is used incorrectly for 'price' and 'highest' is used where 'high' would be more appropriate. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to trends and data analysis.

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. Subject-verb agreement is a recurring issue, such as 'The graph illustrate' (should be 'illustrates') and 'The rate of Nickel begin' (should be 'began'). Additionally, there are errors with articles and tense consistency, such as 'in next two years' instead of 'in the following months'. While the meaning is generally understandable, these persistent errors prevent the response from reaching a higher band score.

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