Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-04

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 data of the average monthly change in the prices of three metals during 2014.

Overall, there were three different metals such as copper, nickel, and zinc. Change in the prices fluctuated throughout the periods. while, the percentage change in the price of Nickel followed the downward trend.

In the beginning of the month January, the percentage change in the price compared with previous month of the copper, nickel and zinc were 1%, 2% and 6% respectively. They fluctuated throughout the half of the period and reached almost below 0% of copper, -1% zinc and -3 % nickel in the month of June.

After that, at the second half of the year, it started to increased and reached price of copper approximately 2%, nickel almost 1% and zinc just below the 2%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While you have identified the main features of the graph, the analysis is quite brief and lacks the depth required for a higher band. You have successfully highlighted the starting points and the general trends, but the description of the fluctuations is somewhat vague. To improve, ensure you provide a more detailed overview of the data points and make more explicit comparisons between the three metals throughout the year. The under-length nature of the response means that the information is not fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. For example, the transition 'After that' is a basic way to link ideas. The flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider range of linking words and phrases to show the relationship between the data points more clearly. Additionally, the opening paragraph is a bit repetitive in its phrasing. Improving the variety of your cohesive devices will help create a more natural and logical progression of information.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and range expected at higher bands. You rely on basic verbs like 'increased' and 'fluctuated' throughout the text. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more varied vocabulary related to trends, such as 'witnessed a decline,' 'experienced a sharp rise,' or 'remained relatively stable.' There are also some minor issues with word choice, such as 'in the beginning of the month January,' which should be 'at the beginning of January.' Expanding your range of descriptive language will significantly enhance your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that affect the clarity of your writing. For instance, 'it started to increased' is incorrect; it should be 'it started to increase.' There are also issues with article usage and preposition placement, such as 'reached almost below 0% of copper.' While these errors do not completely prevent communication, they are frequent enough to be noticeable. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions will help you improve your grammatical accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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