Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The line chart tracks the monthly changes in the prices of Copper, Nickel and Zinc during 2014.
Overall, In the starting period the price of nickel accounted for the highest
as compared to other metals, whereas the prices of copper and zinc fluctuated over the entire year. At the end of 2014, zinc's price was highest closely followed by copper and nickel.
Firstly, In the month of January the nickel price was in 6% surge which was incredibly higher than copper and zinc which were at 2% and 1% respectively. Then in the month of February and March nickel saw a noticeable decline in its price to 4% and then 1% respectively, whereas zinc price increased by 2% in February then noticed a stable decline till may and copper saw declining till June.
Furthermore, in June the nickel saw a dramatic decline taking price of it to -3%, whereas zinc declined by 2%. After that for 3 consecutive months prices of all 3 metals remained unchanged, in October the prices of
nickel and zinc increased significantly whereas copper still saw a minimal decline. At the end of 2014, nickel remained same and accounted at 1% whereas copper was at around 1.5% and zinc at 2%
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 provides a clear overview of the trends, but the reporting of data is inconsistent. While you identify the main features, such as the initial surge in nickel and the subsequent fluctuations, some descriptions are inaccurate. For example, stating that nickel 'remained same' at the end of the year is not supported by the graph, which shows a slight upward trend. Additionally, the comparison between the metals is sometimes vague. To improve, ensure that every data point mentioned is precisely reflected in the graph and avoid generalizations that contradict the visual evidence. The overview is present but could be more analytical regarding the overall volatility of the three metals.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of the data. You use some cohesive devices like 'Firstly', 'Furthermore', and 'At the end of', which provide a basic structure. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel forced. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the phrase 'taking price of it to -3%', which is grammatically awkward and disrupts the flow. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that the relationship between ideas is more seamless and sophisticated.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fluctuated', 'surge', 'decline', and 'dramatic'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and awkward phrasing, such as 'accounted for the highest' (which is missing a noun) and 'noticed a stable decline'. Some of these errors are slightly distracting but do not impede overall communication. To improve, work on collocations—for example, instead of 'noticed a decline', use 'experienced a decline' or 'showed a downward trend'. Expanding your range of descriptive adjectives and adverbs would also help to better characterize the movements in the graph.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include missing articles ('in the month of January'), incorrect preposition usage, and awkward sentence construction, such as 'the nickel saw a dramatic decline taking price of it to -3%'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the main points, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and refining your use of complex sentence structures to ensure they are error-free.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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