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.
Overall, nickel had the biggest changes. Copper was more stable, while zinc also changed during the year.
Nickel increased by 6 percent in January, then fell to 4 percent in February and 1 percent in March and April. It reached -3 percent in June. From July to September, it was about -1 percent, then increased to 1 percent in November and December.
Copper started at 2 percent in January and fell to 0.5 percent in March and April. It was negative in May and June. Then it went up to about 1 percent until September. It fell in October and increased to 1.5 percent in December.
Zinc rose from 1 percent to 3 percent in January and February. It then went down to -1 percent in June. It stayed around -0.5 percent until September, then rose to 2 percent in December.
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 successfully addresses the main task requirements by providing an overview of the graph and reporting key features and comparisons for all three metals. The overview captures the greater volatility of nickel compared to copper and zinc, and individual trends are generally supported by accurate references to the data, such as nickel starting at 6 percent in January and copper starting at 2 percent. However, the description tends to list monthly figures sequentially rather than fully integrating meaningful comparisons across the entire period. For example, stating that nickel reached -3 percent in June and zinc fell to -1 percent in June makes some comparison, but the analysis remains somewhat compartmentalized by metal. Overall, the response covers the core visual data adequately and meets the requirements for a Band 6.0 performance.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into clear paragraphs, with an introductory sentence, an overview paragraph, and separate body paragraphs dedicated to each metal (nickel, copper, and zinc). This logical arrangement ensures a coherent overall structure. However, cohesive devices are somewhat basic and mechanical. The student relies heavily on simple transitional phrases like 'Then', 'It then', and 'From July to September', which gives the progression a somewhat repetitive feel rather than demonstrating flexible cohesion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate ideas, but referencing could be smoother to establish tighter links between the data points. This aligns well with the Band 6 descriptor for coherence and cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing statistical data and trends, such as 'average monthly changes', 'increased', 'fell', 'stable', and 'negative'. While the vocabulary is generally appropriate, it lacks flexibility and precision. The student frequently repeats simple verbs like 'fell', 'increased', and 'went up' rather than employing a wider variety of synonyms (such as 'declined', 'surged', or 'fluctuated'). There are no major spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication, but the absence of less common lexical items keeps the score at Band 6.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as 'Copper was more stable, while zinc also changed during the year' and 'Nickel increased by 6 percent in January, then fell to 4 percent in February'. Grammatical accuracy is generally good; most simple sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly. However, the range of complex structures is somewhat limited, and there are occasional slight awkwardnesses in phrasing, though these do not impede communication. The control over basic grammar is solid, making this a clear Band 6.0 performance for grammatical range and accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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