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 illustrated difference of cost in three various metals namely Copper, Nickel and Zinc in the year of 2014.
Overall, price of all over three metals are decreased month by month.Nickel showed significant decline in middle of that year whereas other metals cost were less decreased as compared to Nickel.It is evident that after month of June all of three metallic elements price increased after downward trend.
In starting phase of 2014, cost of Nickel was highest among all of ore at 6% , however in middle phase of that year Nickel cost was decrease 4% .After June Nickel was very constant at -1% of growth in terms of price till 3 months , after it showed surge after October.
Copper seems very flat in terms of price fluctuation varies from 2% to -1%, however cost of Copper slightly decline at -1% although it showed of 1% inclination after month of October.Metal called Zinc was slightly increased at 2% in February but it also showed negative trend like other metals.Zinc was decreased lower as compared to Nickel yet higher than Copper.
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 covers the main features of the graph, including the overall downward trend and specific fluctuations for each metal. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial and lacks precision in reporting data points. For instance, stating that Nickel was 'very constant at -1%' is slightly inaccurate as the graph shows more volatility. The overview is present but could be more clearly integrated. While the main trends are identified, the comparison between the three metals is inconsistent, and the description of the data points is occasionally vague, which limits the depth of the response.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'however' and 'after'. The progression of ideas is generally logical, but some transitions between sentences feel abrupt. For example, the shift from discussing the start of the year to the middle phase in the third paragraph lacks smooth linking. Referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when referring to 'all of ore' or 'metal called Zinc', which affects the flow of the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks sophistication. There are several instances of awkward word choices and unnatural collocations, such as 'metallic elements price', 'inclination' used instead of 'increase', and 'Metal called Zinc'. While the meaning is generally clear, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive and lacks the precision required for higher bands. There are also minor errors in word formation, such as 'cost of Nickel was decrease', which should be 'decreased'. Expanding the range of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' would improve the quality of the writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Common issues include missing articles ('after month of June'), incorrect verb forms ('cost of Nickel was decrease'), and subject-verb agreement errors ('price of all over three metals are decreased'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some missing spaces after commas and periods. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to be noticeable and suggest a lack of control over more complex grammatical structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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