Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-28
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 chart illustrates the average monthly change in prices of copper, nickel, and zinc in 2014.
Overall, costs of nickel had a dramatic decline among the three metals. Zinc, being at the bottom, fluctuated and climbed to the top. Copper prices stood the same throughout the year.
Nickel had a 6% change in price in January before it plummeted to 1% in March. Then it stayed consistent till May and declined sharply to -3% in June. It again rose steadily to -1% and remained stable in the next 2 months before rising to 1% in the last month of the year.
The prices of zinc saw a considerable change. It fluctuated during 2014. It increased to 3% in the initial months but decreased during the mid-year. Its price reached a 2% change, making zinc the most inconsistent metal among others. However, copper remained a relatively stable metal, with the percentage change hovered between -1 and 2.
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 the main trends in the line chart showing the monthly price changes of copper, nickel, and zinc in 2014. However, the overview and body paragraphs contain several factual inaccuracies regarding the visual data. For instance, the statement that 'costs of nickel had a dramatic decline among the three metals' misinterprets the graph, as nickel experienced both high increases early in the year and sharp drops later, rather than a singular downward trajectory. Furthermore, claiming that 'Copper prices stood the same throughout the year' is contradicted by the graph, which shows copper fluctuating between -0.5% and 2%. While the writer selects relevant features to discuss, the misreadings of the data and some under-developed descriptions pull the score down to Band 5.5.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response is organized into four paragraphs, following a logical structure with an introduction, an overview, and separate body paragraphs for individual metals. Cohesive devices are used to guide the reader through the data, such as 'Overall,' 'Then,' and 'However.' However, paragraphing and referencing are sometimes awkward; the overview attempts to summarize all three metals but contains confusing statements like 'Zinc, being at the bottom, fluctuated and climbed to the top,' which detracts from clear overall progression. The progression between sentences is occasionally mechanical. Overall, the coherence meets the criteria for Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing statistical trends, such as 'dramatic decline,' 'plummeted,' 'fluctuated,' and 'relatively stable.' However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and awkward collocation, such as stating that prices had a '6% change' rather than a 6% increase, and claiming that copper 'stood the same.' Less common vocabulary is attempted with limited success, and some expressions lack precision. Spelling and word choice errors do not severely impede communication, supporting a Band 6.0 score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and time markers appropriately (e.g., 'Zinc, being at the bottom, fluctuated and climbed to the top'). There are several grammatical errors and awkward structures, such as 'the percentage change hovered between -1 and 2' (missing a preposition or plural noun structure) and tense inconsistencies or phrasing issues like 'Nickel had a 6% change in price in January before it plummeted to 1% in March' (where the data actually shows a drop from 6 to 4, then 1). Despite these errors, meaning is generally clear, placing the performance securely at Band 6.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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