Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-25
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 illustrates the percentage of monthly changes in the prices of three distinct metals named copper, nickel and zinc in 2014, price compared with previous month.
Overall, it can be seen that nickel price was highest in the initial phase which plummeted in certain period of time. Other two items experienced almost same trends.
In regards for nickel, the price was higher which stood at 6% in January which plummeted over the last five months. After that the prices were changed and follow similar trend from July to September in 2014. monthly changes. Then the price of nickel rose over the next two months which stood at 1% in December.
Figures for remaining trends, for copper, the monthly price was experienced a slow fluctuation over the period of time. In the beginning the prices were changed was higher which almost same in the month of December accounted for more or less than 2%. Figure for zinc, witnessed a dramatic fluctuations from January to December. In the month of January the price was 1% then it suddenly 3% in the next month while the prices were lower over the last eight months in 2014.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response identifies the main features of the graph, such as the initial high point for nickel and the general trends for copper and zinc. However, the description of the data is often imprecise and lacks clarity. For example, stating that copper experienced a 'slow fluctuation' is vague, and the interpretation of the data points is sometimes inaccurate or difficult to follow. The overview is present but lacks a clear summary of the most significant differences between the metals. To improve, ensure that specific data points are cited accurately and that comparisons between the three metals are more explicit rather than listing them in isolation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the flow of ideas is often hindered by awkward phrasing and a lack of effective cohesive devices. Transitions between sentences are sometimes mechanical or missing, such as the abrupt start to the third paragraph ('Figures for remaining trends'). Referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult to track which metal is being discussed. While the paragraphing is logical, the internal cohesion within paragraphs needs more variety and precision to guide the reader smoothly through the data.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. There are several instances of awkward word choices and collocations, such as 'initial phase', 'plummeted in certain period of time', and 'witnessed a dramatic fluctuations'. The use of 'accounted for more or less than 2%' is imprecise. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise terminology for describing trends, such as 'marginal increase', 'significant decline', or 'remained relatively stable', and avoid repeating the same sentence structures when describing data points.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('the price of nickel rose... which stood at 1%'), incorrect preposition usage ('In regards for nickel'), and awkward sentence construction ('the prices were changed was higher'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on sentence construction and proofreading for basic errors would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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