Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-27
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 illustrates the average monthly percentage change in the prices of Copper, Nickel and Zinc throughout 2014.
Overall, it can be seen that there were downward trends in the figure for Copper and Nickel, whereas another categories saw an upward trend over the year.
According to the chart, the figure for Nickel the data started at 6% in January, compared to 2% of Copper. As for Nickel there was declined dramatically to -3% in Jun, after that the data increased gradually to -1% in July. After which the data maintianed the stability -1% July to September, then there was rose slightly to 1% in December. However, the same cannot be said for copper, the data fluctuated and decreased moderately at the beginning of the end.
In contrast, the percentage of Zinc began at 1% in January, then there was rose slowly to 3% in February. Regarding the figure fall gradually to -1% in October, and finally the data surged rapidly to 2% in December.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the graph, including the overall trends for the three metals. However, the summary is slightly marred by inaccuracies in data reporting. For instance, you mention that Nickel 'declined dramatically to -3% in Jun', but the graph shows the decline occurring between January and February. Additionally, the description of Copper is vague, stating it 'fluctuated and decreased moderately at the beginning of the end', which lacks precision and fails to clearly describe the specific movements shown on the chart. To improve, ensure that data points are accurately linked to the correct months and that descriptions of trends are specific and supported by the provided figures.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs for the specific data. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'According to the chart', and 'However' are used to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally disrupted by awkward phrasing, such as 'After which the data maintianed the stability -1% July to September'. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when you refer to 'another categories' instead of 'the other categories'. While the overall progression is logical, the mechanical nature of some transitions and minor errors in referencing prevent a higher score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fluctuated', 'surged', and 'moderately'. However, there are several instances of word-choice errors and awkward collocations, such as 'maintianed the stability' (should be 'maintained stability') and 'at the beginning of the end'. Furthermore, there is a spelling error ('maintianed'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, the lack of precision and occasional errors in word formation limit the score. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and ensuring accurate spelling of key descriptive terms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. For example, 'there was rose slightly' is grammatically incorrect; it should be 'there was a slight rise' or 'it rose slightly'. Similarly, 'there was declined dramatically' is incorrect. There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases, such as 'at the beginning of the end'. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors in basic sentence construction prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on mastering subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive and active voice.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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