Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-05
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 percentage of average monthly change in the prices of three metals such as copper, zinc and nickel throughout 2014.
Overall, all three metals experienced fluctuation over the twelve months, copper, zinc and nickel increased towards end of the year. Nickel recorded the highest price change in metal. However, zinc had the lowest percentage and this trend saw noticeable changes in metal prices.
To begin with, nickel accounted for largest price changes in metal at 6% in January, but it was saw the dramatic decreased to 1% in March, nickel was continuously decreasing by June and reach a -3% in July. Copper had the second highest prices in metal at 2% in January, , it was experienced fluctuation and copper was stood at -1.5 in June and March months. Zinc had the lowest percentage of price changes in metals, started with 1% in January month, then it reached on peak 3% in February month, it declined to -1% in June month.
In second half of the year, nickel increased to 1% in December month, before felling -2% in October. Copper surged to 2% in December month, before decreasing marginally. Zinc climbed to -1% in June month, it increased to 1% in December in month.
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 covers the main features of the graph, identifying the trends for copper, nickel, and zinc. However, the analysis is somewhat inconsistent. For instance, the description of the data is occasionally inaccurate, such as stating nickel reached -3% in July when the graph shows a different trend, or describing zinc's movement in June as climbing to -1% when it actually declined. While the overview captures the general fluctuation, the lack of precision in reporting the data points limits the score. The response would benefit from a more careful verification of the figures against the visual data provided.
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 often mechanical and sometimes misused, such as the repetitive use of 'in month' or awkward transitions like 'before felling -2%'. The progression of ideas is occasionally disjointed, particularly in the third paragraph where the sequence of data points feels cluttered. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing is clear would significantly enhance the flow of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward collocations and word choice errors, such as 'it was saw the dramatic decreased' and 'reached on peak'. While the student attempts to use terms like 'fluctuation' and 'surged', the overall range is limited, and the errors in word form (e.g., 'felling' instead of 'falling') occasionally distract the reader. Focusing on accurate word forms and more sophisticated reporting verbs would improve this score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'copper was stood'), incorrect verb tenses, and missing articles. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary commas and run-on sentences. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of errors in basic sentence construction prevents the response from reaching a higher band. More attention to proofreading for tense consistency and sentence boundaries is recommended.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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