Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-31
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 average monthly difference in the costs of three metals in 2014.
Overall, in the month of January, nickel had shown highest percentage of change in pricing and the highest fluctuations in price during given period. in June, except copper, both zinc and nickle reflected sharp drop. Copper had described most stable changes in prices among all.
In the month of January, nickel initiated its journey from the 6% of growth in price, which declined dramatically till march and reached at 1%. After remained stable for a month, it had decreased steadily till may and then again dropped drastically for a month and reached at the all time low at -3%. after June, declined prices had escalated a bit till -1% and remained stable till September. Then it shown stable decrease and shown sudden growth from October to November month and reached at 1% change in price. After that it remained same for the rest of the month.
On the other hand, Copper and Zinc both had shown more stability than Nickel. In the January, Copper had started with 2% of changes in price which had steadily declined till March. Then it remained same for a month and reflected growth of 1.5%. After that it also remained same till September. At last it ended at around 1.5% price change in December. While, Zinc started with the least percentage of changes in price 1% had shown sharp growth for a month with 2% increase. Then Zinc also shown fluctuations in negative directions. In the end of last three months, it had shown notable increase and reached at top of the percentage of changes in price in the 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 | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response provides a clear overview and identifies the main trends for the three metals. You successfully highlight the volatility of nickel compared to the relative stability of copper and zinc. However, the report lacks precision in data reporting. For instance, stating nickel 'initiated its journey from the 6% of growth' is slightly inaccurate as the graph shows it starting near 6%. Additionally, some descriptions of the trends are vague, such as 'remained same for a month'. To improve, ensure you cite specific data points from the graph more accurately to support your observations and avoid over-generalising the fluctuations.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs focusing on specific metals. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On the other hand' and 'In the month of January', which help guide the reader. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by mechanical phrasing and some awkward transitions between sentences. For example, 'After that it remained same for the rest of the month' lacks a clear reference to which metal or period is being discussed. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring clear referencing would enhance the overall cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fluctuations', 'escalated', and 'drastically'. However, there are several instances of word-choice errors and awkward collocations, such as 'initiated its journey' (too narrative) and 'described most stable changes' (incorrect verb usage). Additionally, there are minor spelling errors like 'nickle' instead of 'nickel'. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and ensuring correct spelling and collocation throughout your 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 that occasionally impede the flow. Issues include incorrect verb tenses (e.g., 'nickel had shown highest', 'it shown stable decrease'), missing articles, and punctuation errors. For example, 'In the January' should be 'In January', and 'reached at 1%' should be 'reached 1%'. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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