Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-16
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 graph below decribe the average monthly difference in the prices of three metals during 2014.
Overall nickel had the highest price in january 2014,while its price was the lowest in december.
In, january nickle had the highest price at 6, while copper was the second most expensive metal at 2. Zinc recorded the lowest price at just 1.
In feburary, nickel remained the highest priced metal at 4, followed by zinc at 3, copper had the lowest price at just 1.
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 is severely under-length, containing only 82 words compared to the required minimum of 150 words. This results in a significant penalty under Task Achievement. Furthermore, the content misinterprets the graph entirely: the chart illustrates the percentage change in prices compared with the previous month, not the absolute prices of the metals themselves (e.g., stating nickel had a 'price of 6' in January rather than a 6% increase). Consequently, the data is incorrectly reported and comparisons are flawed. The overview is weak, attempting to summarise prices rather than trends or overall patterns. To improve, you must ensure you meet the word count requirement and carefully analyse the axis labels to understand what data is actually being presented.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The writing is divided into short, repetitive sentences and lacks proper paragraphing, as the entire response consists of isolated introductory and body statements without a developed structure. Cohesive devices are minimal or misused; transitions such as 'while its price was the lowest' attempt logical connection, but the overall progression of ideas is hindered by the brevity and structural simplicity of the text. Referencing is basic, and there is no clear distinction between an overview and detailed body paragraphs. To reach a higher band, you need to organise your writing into distinct paragraphs—an introduction, an overview, and supporting body paragraphs—while using a wider range of cohesive devices to link your ideas smoothly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The lexical range is very limited and repetitive, relying on basic terms such as 'highest price', 'lowest price', and 'price'. There are spelling errors ('decribe' instead of describe, 'january', 'nickle', 'feburary') and inaccurate collocations stemming from a fundamental misunderstanding of the graph's units (treating percentage changes as monetary values). While basic communication of high and low points is achieved, there is no use of less common vocabulary or flexible phrasing suitable for an Academic Task 1 report. To improve, you should incorporate precise vocabulary related to data trends, such as 'fluctuate', 'surge', 'drop', and 'percentage increase', while eliminating spelling mistakes.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The grammar is characterised by very simple sentence structures, such as 'In january nickle had the highest price at 6, while copper was the second most expensive metal at 2.' There is a lack of complex sentence forms, and punctuation errors are present, including comma splices and incorrect capitalisation (e.g., lowercase 'january' and 'feburary'). While simple clauses are generally comprehensible, the grammatical range is too restricted for a higher score. To improve, you must integrate a mix of complex sentence structures, such as subordinate clauses and participial phrases, while paying closer attention to punctuation and capitalization rules.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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