Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-29
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 provided line graph illustrates the change in price of three metals namely, copper, nickel and zinc on a monthly basis in 2014.
Overall, the price of nickel and copper has been dropped while the price of zinc had increased at the end of the year. Furthermore, a trend is oberebe observed a trend as all three metal prices were lowest in June.
The detailed analysis of the graph showcases the fall in the price of copper as it slumped from 6% in January to -3% in June but bounced back to 1% in December. Similarly, the price of copper has also decreased significantly from 2% in January to -0.5% in June but also decide to bounce back to 1.5% at the end of the year.
Although, the price of zinc had skyrocketed in the first 2 month reaching 3%, it dropped back reaching -1% in June but unlike copper and zinc, it has bounced back to 2% at the end of December which is higher than where it started(1%) in January.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
You have successfully identified the main features of the graph and provided a clear overview. However, there are significant inaccuracies in your data reporting. For instance, you mention the price of copper 'slumped' from 6% to -3%, but the graph shows nickel starting at 6% and copper starting at 2%. Furthermore, you confuse the metals in your description, referring to copper twice when describing different trends. While you attempt to make comparisons, these factual errors regarding which metal performed which action undermine the accuracy of your summary. To improve, ensure you carefully cross-reference the labels in the legend with the lines on the graph before writing.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Similarly', and 'Although' to link ideas. However, the progression is occasionally hindered by the factual errors mentioned in the task achievement section, which makes the comparison confusing for the reader. Additionally, there is a minor issue with the phrase 'a trend is oberebe observed a trend', which is repetitive and contains a spelling error, disrupting the flow of the second paragraph. Improving the precision of your referencing would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'illustrates', 'slumped', 'skyrocketed', and 'bounced back' to describe trends. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and spelling, such as 'oberebe' (likely a typo for 'observed') and the repetitive use of 'price of copper' when you meant to refer to other metals. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the general meaning, the errors and the confusion between the metal names limit your score. Focus on using more precise terminology for data trends and proofreading for spelling slips.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the 'Although' clause in the final paragraph. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, including tense inconsistencies ('has been dropped', 'had increased') and subject-verb agreement issues. The sentence 'a trend is oberebe observed a trend' is syntactically broken. Additionally, there are punctuation errors, such as missing spaces before parentheses and awkward phrasing like 'decide to bounce back'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to suggest a need for more careful editing of your sentence construction.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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