Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-03
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 graph here depicts the variation in prices of copper, nickel and iron over the whole year of 2014.
The graph is showing a rise and fall in rates of all the three metals over the year 2014. Considering the trend, all of these have a drop during the months of june and October as none of the metals have shown a regular trend.Talking about nickel, its price has shown a rapid fall from january to june , however, it tried to gain value and shown a rise till december.
The copper on the other side, has a gradual drop during the first six months and it then gained the same price till november with a slow and continuous increase.Zinc has shown an upward trend in the month of February and the has a fall till june but it eventually then increased in its value.
Comparing the prices in the start of year to last month of year, copper and zinc are at same valus with a little rise but nickel has lost its importance. All of the metals are around the same value at the end of the year.
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 addresses the task by identifying the main trends for the three metals. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial and contains factual inaccuracies regarding the data. For instance, the text mentions 'iron' instead of 'nickel' in the introduction, and the claim that all metals have a drop in June and October is not fully supported by the graph. While the main features are highlighted, the lack of precision in reporting the data points and the misidentification of the metals limit the score. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data is accurately transcribed and that comparisons are more specific, focusing on the most significant fluctuations rather than listing every minor movement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'the' and 'has shown'. The progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed, particularly in the transition between the description of individual metals and the final comparison. While the paragraphing is sufficient, the logical flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect the trends more fluidly. Referencing is generally clear, but the overall structure feels a bit list-like rather than a cohesive summary.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'gained the same price' and 'lost its importance', which do not accurately describe financial trends. Additionally, the misidentification of 'iron' instead of 'nickel' is a significant lexical error. While the student attempts to use terms like 'upward trend' and 'gradual drop', the range is limited and repetitive. To improve, focus on using more precise terminology for describing graphs, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', 'remained stable', or 'experienced a sharp decline'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'the has a fall' is grammatically incorrect, and there are issues with article usage and subject-verb agreement throughout the text (e.g., 'at same valus'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas and periods. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and sentence construction would be highly beneficial.
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.