Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-17

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 compares the average monthly change in price of three different metals in a year during 2014.

Overall, it is evident that the prices of metals experienced significant fluctuation. Nickel price was highest in the beginning of year and lowest in the end of year. Copper showed minor changes compared to other metals over the period.

To commence with, nickel prices was at its peak in month of january at 6%. However, it fell significantly at 1% in march. The prices remain unchanged until april and it dropped dramatically to -3% in june. In july, the prices of nickel increased to rach -1%, while it remained stable until september. It decreased to -2% in october, before prices reached 1% in december.

Furthermore, prices of copper started at 2% in january and declined gradually to 0.5% in march and april. It slightly fell below 0% in june, before it increased by 1% in july. The prices remained stable until september. It droppes slightly below 1% before it reached just above 1%. Zinc, prices started at 1% in january and increased to 3% in february. The prices decreased gradually until it reached to -1% in june. In july, the prices increased slightly and stood at nealry -1.5% until september. It remained at -1% in october, before it reached to 2% at the end of year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student successfully covers all parts of the task by reporting on the monthly changes for all three metals throughout 2014. An appropriate overall trend is provided, noting that metal prices experienced significant fluctuations, with copper showing the most stability. Key features are selected and compared, such as nickel starting at its peak in January at 6% and experiencing deep drops later in the year, and zinc rising to 3% in February before dropping into negative territory. While there are a few minor inaccuracies in data reading (for instance, describing zinc dropping to -1.5% in September when it was closer to -0.5%), the main trends are accurately captured, fulfilling the requirements for Band 6.5 to 7.0. Overall, the task is addressed clearly.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement and follows a logical progression, moving from an introductory overview to body paragraphs detailing individual metals. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate information. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical or faulty. For instance, the transition 'To commence with' is awkward, and the referencing within sentences is occasionally clunky (e.g., 'The prices remain unchanged...'). Cohesive devices are used, but they could be applied with greater flexibility and naturalness to achieve a higher band score. Paragraphing and general logical flow prevent the score from dropping lower.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for the task, successfully incorporating terms such as 'fluctuation', 'peak', 'gradually', and 'stable'. However, there are noticeable lexical errors and awkward word choices, such as 'reach -1%' misspelled as 'rach -1%', and inaccurate prepositions or collocations like 'at the beginning of year' instead of 'at the beginning of the year' and 'dropped slightly below 1% before it reached just above 1%'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with mixed success, placing the response securely in the Band 6 range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, attempting various past tense forms and time markers. There are several grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'nickel prices was at its peak', 'Zinc, prices started'), missing articles, and awkward phrasing ('dropped to -3% in june. In july...'). Although these errors persist and occur frequently, they rarely impede communication, as the reader can still readily understand the intended meaning. This performance aligns well with the Band 6 descriptors.

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

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