Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
The line graph illustrates average four weeks change in costs of copper, nickel and zinc during 2014.
Overall, it is clear that nickel prices drop between january to december but zinc costs fluctuated whole year and had a 2% increase. Copper prices remain stable during the year and decreases around 0.5%.
At beginning, nickel prices are 6% higher than other metals and in moth of june costs drop by -3% but zinc and copper prices fluctuated in 12 months. In last 12 weeks prices rose of all three metals whereas, nickel prices decline by anually 5%, copper costs also drop around 0.5% and zinc prices increase by 1% anually.
In comparison, zinc prices rose in feburary approxiamtely 3% but copper prices drop by 1% and nickel prices also see a decline of 2%. In addition if we see prices after the month october there is sudden raise in all metal prices. Zinc costs increase by 1%, copper costs fallen 0.5% and nickel prices decline by around 5% anually.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses the task by identifying the main trends, but the data interpretation is inconsistent and occasionally inaccurate. For example, the claim that 'nickel prices drop between january to december' is a broad generalization that ignores the specific monthly fluctuations shown in the graph. Furthermore, the description of the data is confusing, particularly the repeated mention of 'anually' when the graph depicts monthly changes. While the main features are selected, the lack of precision in reporting the figures (e.g., 'costs drop by -3%') and the contradictory statements regarding the final trends hinder the clarity of the report. To improve, ensure that data points are accurately transcribed and that the summary reflects the specific movements shown in the visual aid.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or misused, such as 'In comparison' and 'In addition', which do not effectively link the ideas to the preceding sentences. The transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is abrupt, and the internal structure of the paragraphs lacks a clear focus, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison of the three metals. Improving the use of referencing (e.g., 'the former', 'the latter') and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would significantly enhance the flow of the writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive. Words like 'costs', 'prices', 'drop', and 'increase' are used throughout without much variation. There are also several errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'moth' instead of 'month', 'feburary', and 'approxiamtely'. The phrase 'average four weeks change' is awkward and does not accurately reflect the graph's title. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise terminology for describing trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', 'peaked', or 'declined steadily', and ensure that spelling is accurate to avoid distracting the reader.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response relies on a limited range of sentence structures, mostly simple sentences with frequent grammatical errors. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'copper prices remain stable... and decreases'), incorrect preposition usage, and tense inconsistencies. The misuse of 'anually' instead of 'monthly' or 'over the period' creates confusion. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with capitalization of months like 'january' and 'feburary'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of errors is high enough to cause some difficulty for the reader. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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