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 line graph compares the percentage differences in the price of three different metals- copper, nickel, and zinc throughout the year 2014.
Overall, it is evident from the graph that at the beginning of the year, the price of Nickel was the highest and zick accounted for the least. However, by the month of December, the price of nickel experienced a stark decline and became the lowest whereas the price of zinc was the highest. Moreover, the price of copper fluctuated considerably.
Initially, nickel led the market at 6%, followed by Copper at 2%. The price of nickel then fell dramatically to 1% in March, where it remained stable for a month. In the following month, after a slight dip in the price at 0.6%, it hit the lowest at negative 3% before bouncing back to negative 1%. From June to september the cahnge in price levelled off before another fall, which eventually rose to 1% and remained stable. A quite similar pattern can be observed with Zick. Though it started at 1%, there was a 2 percentage points increase in price. However, for the remaining period the pattern was quite similar to nickel but in the end the price rose to 2%.
Copper represented a different trajectory, starting at 1%. After that, the price decreased merginally before it became the least at 0.5% in March. After remaining stable for a month, the price rose slightly to 1% and remained there for the next two months before reaching at 1.5% eventually.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers all three metals and identifies key trends. However, there are significant inaccuracies in data interpretation. For instance, you state that Nickel started at 6% and Zinc at 1%, but the graph shows different starting points. Furthermore, the description of the trends is sometimes confusing, such as the claim that Zinc's pattern was 'quite similar' to Nickel's, which is not clearly supported by the visual data. To improve, ensure that you carefully cross-reference your written descriptions with the specific data points on the axes to avoid factual errors. The overview is present but could be more precise in highlighting the most significant differences between the metals.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs focusing on specific trends. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'However', and 'Moreover' are used to link ideas. However, the progression of information within the body paragraphs is occasionally disjointed, particularly when describing the fluctuations of Nickel and Zinc. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the timeline of changes. Improving the use of transition signals to show contrast and sequence more effectively would enhance the flow of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'stark decline', 'fluctuated considerably', and 'trajectory'. However, there are some spelling errors, such as 'zick' (repeatedly) and 'cahnge', as well as minor word choice issues like 'merginally' (marginally). While these do not impede communication, they prevent the response from reaching a higher band. To improve, focus on accuracy in spelling and ensure that you use more precise terminology for describing trends, such as 'plateaued' instead of 'levelled off' or 'remained stable'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'the cahnge in price levelled off' and 'reaching at 1.5%'. Some sentences are slightly awkward, such as 'the price of nickel experienced a stark decline and became the lowest whereas the price of zinc was the highest'. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors suggests a need for more careful proofreading. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions when describing numerical data.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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