Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-01
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 graphs tracks that how much prices of copper, zinc and nickel altered over a period of 12 months in 2014.
Overall, nickel prices reduced significantly despite of being most expensive metal initially. Moreover, despite of dramatic fluctuations, all metals had same prices by the end of 2014 with lowest percentages shown in june and october.
Firstly, nickel started from 6% in january and drastically reduced to just 1% in just months, then droped slightly near to 0% in may before going in negative in june. after that it remian stable at 0% for two month and then increased to 1% by the ned of year.
Secondly, zinc was at 1% at the start of the year, climbed to 3% just in a single month before falling significantly to -1% injune, then fluctuated between -1 to 0 till octuber befor rising 2% in december. On the other hand copper prices were fluctuated relitivey small. dropped from 2% to just below 0% in first six months, then after slight fluctuations, ended at 1.5% in 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 | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the graph, identifying the trends for all three metals. However, the analysis is somewhat inconsistent. For instance, the statement that 'all metals had same prices by the end of 2014' is inaccurate based on the data provided. Additionally, the description of the trends is occasionally imprecise, such as the vague reference to 'just months' instead of specifying the timeframe. While the overview is present, it lacks the necessary precision to reach a higher band. The data selection is generally relevant, but the interpretation of the figures needs to be more accurate to fully satisfy the requirements of the task.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. The use of cohesive devices like 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'On the other hand' provides a basic structure. However, the flow is sometimes hindered by mechanical phrasing and repetitive sentence structures. Referencing is occasionally unclear, and the transition between ideas could be smoother. While the overall arrangement is coherent, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat basic and occasionally repetitive, which limits the score in this criterion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks sophistication. There are several spelling errors, such as 'remian', 'ned', 'relitivey', and 'octuber', which detract from the quality of the writing. The student relies on basic descriptors like 'reduced', 'increased', and 'fluctuated'. While these are appropriate for describing graphs, the lack of variety and the presence of spelling mistakes prevent a higher score. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise terminology for trends and ensuring accurate spelling of common words.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Examples include 'The line graphs tracks that how much', 'despite of being', and 'copper prices were fluctuated'. These errors, along with issues in subject-verb agreement and preposition usage, are noticeable. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors indicates a lack of control over complex structures. The student needs to focus on basic sentence construction and proofreading to eliminate these persistent errors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.