Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-06
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 the average monthly change in the price of three metals named copper, zinc and nickel in 2014.
Overall, The average prices of copper and zinc fluctuated throughout the time period. Nickel showed a sharp downward trend in first half of the year, in contrast, copper and zinc declined steadily and converged at the lowest in June.
Between January and march, nickel dropped substantially, starting at 6% and ended with the 1%, after remaining stable for a couple of year it experienced another significant drop by June at the lowest -3%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, reaching only 94 words. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. While you have identified the main features of the graph, the analysis is incomplete. You have not described the trends for the entire year for all three metals, nor have you provided a comprehensive comparison. To improve, you must ensure you cover all data points provided in the prompt and extend your analysis to meet the length requirement, which will allow for a more thorough development of the main features.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organised into a brief introduction, an overview, and one body paragraph. However, the progression of ideas is hindered by the lack of sufficient content. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Overall' and 'in contrast', but the limited length makes the overall structure feel underdeveloped. To achieve a higher band, you should ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus and that ideas are linked more fluidly across a longer, more detailed response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
You have used some appropriate vocabulary for describing trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'downward trend', and 'declined steadily'. However, the range is limited due to the brevity of the text. There are also minor errors in word choice and phrasing, such as 'named copper' (which is unnecessary) and 'at the lowest' (which should be 'at their lowest point'). Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise descriptors for data movement will help improve your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'in first half of the year' (missing article 'the') and 'ended with the 1%' (incorrect preposition/article usage). Additionally, the phrase 'after remaining stable for a couple of year' contains a pluralization error ('years'). While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors and the limited range of structures prevent a higher score. Focusing on article usage and subject-verb agreement will be 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.