Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-20
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 multi line graph depicts the average prices of three metals (copper, nickel and zinc) annualy in the year 2014. the graph shows the percentage change in price compared with previous month.
Overall, from the month of july to september there was no change in prices for all three metals. The highest fall in price of nickel was in the month of june. Both, nickel and copper prices fall in the month of february expect for the Zinc it rose in the month of february.
For the first six month, the graph declined for all three metals. In the month of january, Nickel had the highest percentage change in price of 6% followed by copper and zinc having 2% and 1% respectively. By the month of february both metals nickel and copper decreased to 4% and 1% respectively whereas for zinc it increased to 3%. As for the following months all three metals had a great fall in the percentage. Till it reached june it Zinc, copper and nickel had -1% , 0.5% and -3% change in prices.
For the later half of the year 2014, each metal had the significant increase in the percentage. For zinc, copper and
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response attempts to summarise the main features of the line graph showing the percentage change in prices of copper, nickel, and zinc in 2014. However, there are several inaccurate data reports and misinterpretations of the visual data. For instance, the student states that from July to September there was no change in prices for all three metals, which is incorrect as nickel and zinc show slight negative changes during that period. Additionally, the description of February trends contains factual inaccuracies, and the response is incomplete, cutting off abruptly in the final paragraph. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed, leading to a band score of 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay attempts some basic paragraphing and chronological sequencing, starting with an overview and moving into monthly details. However, logical progression is hindered by inaccurate statements and the unfinished nature of the text. Cohesive devices are used sparingly and sometimes mechanically (e.g., 'For the first six month', 'whereas', 'As for the following months'). Reference words are occasionally unclear. Overall arrangement shows some organisation, but the lack of a complete conclusion and occasional confusion in sequencing place this in band 5.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for basic description, featuring terms such as 'percentage change', 'highest fall', 'increased', and 'decreased'. However, the range is limited and there are notable word choice and collocation errors, such as 'annualy' (spelling error), 'prices fall in the month of february expect for the Zinc' (grammatical and lexical confusion), and 'a great fall in the percentage'. Attempts at less common vocabulary are minimal. The lexical adequacy is sufficient for communication of basic trends, but errors and repetition restrict the score to 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control is inconsistent. There are frequent grammatical errors, such as missing capitalisation ('january', 'june', 'zinc'), incorrect prepositions ('in the month of july to september'), and spelling errors ('annualy', 'expect' instead of 'except'). Furthermore, the sentence structure breaks down completely at the end where the text cuts off ('For zinc, copper and'). These errors occasionally cause difficulty for the reader, placing the grammar performance firmly at band 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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