Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-21
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 line chart demonstrates the average monthly changes in the prices of three metal in the year 2014.
Overall, the highest price of the metal is nickel which begins in the month of january from the ratio of 6 percent and in all three metals the nickel percentage fluctuates and the lowest one is nickel in the month of june with -3 percent.
The price of copper begins with the average of 2 percent from january and remain stable from the month of july to september with the average of 1 percent and till the end it rises little for approximately 1.5 percent in the month of december.
Although, average monthly changes in the prices of zinc and nickel is fluctuating but from the month of july till september the prices of all three metals were stable, copper is on 1 percent, nickel is on -1 percent and the zinc is about -0.5.
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 student attempts to address the task by describing the overall trends and some specific data points for the three metals shown in the line chart. However, there are significant inaccuracies in reporting the data. For instance, the writer states that nickel begins at a ratio of 6 percent in January and reaches its lowest point in June at -3 percent, which captures the peaks and troughs correctly. Yet, other descriptions contain confusion, such as stating 'the highest price of the metal is nickel' rather than referring to the percentage change in price. Furthermore, the selection of main features lacks a fully clear overview, and the generalisation about stability from July to September is partially inaccurate since copper fluctuates and nickel remains steady at -1 percent. This places the response in Band 5.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The text is organized into four paragraphs, including a brief introduction and an overview. However, the logical progression is weak due to repetitive phrasing and poor linking between sentences. Cohesive devices are used awkwardly or inaccurately, such as the transition 'Although, average monthly changes in the prices of zinc and nickel is fluctuating...' which leads to a grammatically broken and structurally confused sentence. Paragraphing is attempted, but the grouping of ideas lacks cohesion, making the overall flow disjointed. Referencing within sentences is occasionally unclear, hindering smooth reading.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The lexical range is limited and repetitive. The student relies heavily on basic vocabulary and exact repetitions of words such as 'percent', 'month', 'average', and 'prices'. There are noticeable lexical inaccuracies, such as using 'ratio' instead of 'percentage' or 'rate', and confusing the actual price of the metal with the percentage change in price ('the highest price of the metal is nickel'). While basic communication is achieved, the lack of a flexible vocabulary range and frequent word-choice errors restrict the score to Band 5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The student demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but attempts at complexity frequently result in grammatical errors. Examples of errors include subject-verb agreement issues ('changes in the prices of zinc and nickel is fluctuating') and missing articles or pluralization errors ('three metal'). Punctuation is basic, and run-on sentences with faulty coordination appear, such as the final sentence in the response. While some simple structures are accurate, frequent grammatical errors impede fluency and clarity.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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