Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-19
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 graph shows the average monthly changes in the prices of copper, nickel and zinc in 2014
In January, nickel went up by 6 percent. This was the highest number. It went down to 4 percent in February and 1 percent in March and April. In June, it went down to -3 percent. From July to September, it was about -1 percent. It went up to 1 percent in November and December.
Copper was 2 percent in January. It went down to about 0.5 percent in March and April. In May and June, it was about -0.5 percent. It went up to 1 percent from July to September. In October, it was 0.5 percent and then went up to 1.5 percent in December.
Zinc was 1 percent in January and went up to 3 percent in February. After that, it went down to -1 percent in June. From July to September, it was about -0.5 percent. It went down to -1 percent in October, then went up to 2 percent in December.
Overall, nickel changed the most. Copper had smaller changes. Zinc also went up and down during the year.
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 student attempts to cover all three metal series across the year, noting key peaks and troughs such as nickel starting at 6 percent in January and dropping to -3 percent in June. An overview is provided at the end, identifying that nickel changed the most, copper had smaller changes, and zinc fluctuated. However, the response lacks a clear, integrated introduction, and the data is listed in a somewhat mechanical, month-by-month fashion rather than being synthesised into key trends and overarching comparisons. The overall summary is basic and does not fully capture the nuance of the data. This performance aligns best with Band 6.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The report is logically arranged, dedicating a separate paragraph to each metal (nickel, copper, and zinc) followed by a brief concluding sentence. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the categories. However, cohesion relies heavily on repetitive sentence structures and simple transitional phrases like 'In January', 'It went down', and 'After that'. There is a lack of advanced cohesive devices or sophisticated referencing to link ideas smoothly across sentences, resulting in a slightly mechanical flow. Progression is present, but it feels more like a list of data points than a cohesive analytical report. This fits Band 6 descriptors well.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully conveying basic percentages and directional movements such as 'went up', 'went down', and 'highest number'. However, the lexical range is quite narrow and repetitive. The student relies heavily on simple verbs and lacks less common vocabulary or precise synonyms (e.g., fluctuating, experienced a surge, plummeted, remained stable). While there are no major spelling errors, the lack of lexical flexibility and precision prevents the response from achieving a higher band. This is a solid Band 6 performance.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates a mix of simple and moderately complex sentence structures, such as 'In January, nickel went up by 6 percent' and 'From July to September, it was about -1 percent.' Control over basic past-tense forms is generally good, and punctuation is accurate. However, sentence structures are repetitive and lack variety; complex structures with subordinate clauses are virtually absent. While grammatical errors are minimal and do not impede communication, the limited grammatical range prevents the writing from reaching Band 7. Therefore, a score of 6.0 is appropriate.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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