Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-30

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 illustrates the monthly comparison about the prices of three different metals in 2014.

Overall, initially the price of the nickel and copper was at its peak. Zinc was the lowest in the initial days but at the end of the year it was at the highest price.

Looking at the detail, in January the Nickel was at its peak around 6 percent, where the copper lies around 2 percent and zinc was approximately 1 percent change in the price compared with previous month. In February, zinc changes to 3 percent and nickel dropped to 4 percent.

In March and April, there is no increment in three metals and zinc at 2 percent, nickel at 1 percent and copper was at 0.5 percent at the end the April. But in June nickel was at its worse time and it is around -3 percent and other two metals prices also decreased around -0.5 percent. Finally at the end of December, all the three metals stay at the same level approximately 1 to 2 percent.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the graph, but the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you identify the starting and ending points, the description of the trends is inconsistent. For instance, you mention 'no increment' in March and April, but the graph shows fluctuations. The summary lacks a clear, analytical overview of the overall trends, such as the general volatility of the metals. To improve, ensure you group data logically rather than listing months chronologically, and focus on significant peaks and troughs rather than describing every minor fluctuation, which can lead to inaccuracies.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'In January', 'In February', 'In March and April'). The transition between sentences is sometimes abrupt, and the logical progression is hindered by the lack of clear comparative language. To reach a higher band, try to use a wider variety of linking words and phrases to show the relationship between the data points, such as 'In contrast', 'Conversely', or 'Simultaneously'.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. You rely on basic terms like 'increment', 'dropped', and 'worse time'. There is a lack of sophisticated vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', 'remained stable', or 'declined'. Additionally, there are minor errors in collocation, such as 'at its worse time', which sounds unnatural. Expanding your range of descriptive verbs and adverbs would significantly improve the quality of your writing and help you convey the data more accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'the price of the nickel and copper was', 'zinc changes to 3 percent'), missing articles, and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'at the end the April'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are noticeable and occur throughout the text. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring consistent tense usage when describing past data.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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