Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-01

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 graph illustrates the moderate monthly changes in the prices of copper, nickel and zinc metals during 2014.

Overall, it is clear that all three metals was fluctuated in price compared over the whole period of a year. In contrast, zinc was increased markedly at the end of the year, where as copper and nickel vary similarly, but slightly droped from the starting of the month of January to December.

Zinc was the only metal, which was quadrupled all over the year. Initially it had 1% in january month of 2014, considerably followed by 3% in february. After it slightly drop from 2% in march to 1% in may. There was a steadily decrease in june month with around -1%, which was a massive plummet. Considerably there was similar track with approximately of -1.5% in the month of july, august and september. Again it had reached at -1% in october, neverthless it sharply increased with just over 1.5% to 2% with in the month of november to december.

In the month of january, copper reached 2%, followed by just under 1% in February. There was a similar fall around 0.5% in march and april, while it repeadtedly, go down in the month of may and june at just -1,5% changes. There was a rose significantly with in the month of july to september, however it again reach a low of around 0.5% in october to november. In December, it sharply reached at just1.5%.

Lastly, Nickel also clearly show the experience of up and down of price changes at just 6% to 1% from the month of january to december, which was a huge plunge. It gradually drop 4% in february, 1% in march, april and may. It sharply go down upto -3% in june, with rise steadily in the month of july, august and september. Whereas, nickel reached 1% in the last two month of 2014.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt by attempting to summarise the main features and trends of copper, nickel, and zinc prices throughout 2014, fulfilling the basic requirements of an academic task one response. However, the development of ideas is uneven, and some information is inaccurate or confusingly stated, placing the response at a moderate level of achievement. For instance, the statement that zinc was 'quadrupled all over the year' is a misinterpretation of percentage changes shown on the graph. Similarly, descriptions of data points and trends—such as claiming copper dropped in January when it rose to two percent—contain inaccuracies that detract from the overall clarity. To reach a higher level, the writer should ensure that data is read and reported accurately from the chart, with clearer overviews that highlight the most significant trends rather than attempting to list every minor fluctuation.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with a clear paragraph structure, dedicating a separate paragraph to each metal following an introductory overview. Ideas generally progress logically from month to month across the year. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical or faulty, resulting in a somewhat rigid flow. Cohesive devices such as 'initially', 'after it slightly drop', and 'whereas' are used, but referencing and transitions between sentences are occasionally clumsy, as seen in awkward phrasing like 'Considerably there was similar track'. Furthermore, paragraphing is applied appropriately by separating the metals, but internal logical transitions could be smoother and more sophisticated to enhance the overall readability of the report.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The writer uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for the task, attempting less-common items such as 'fluctuated', 'plummet', and 'significantly'. However, there are notable inaccuracies in word choice, collocation, and word forms throughout the text. For example, terms are used incorrectly or awkwardly, such as 'droped' (dropped), 'repeadtedly, go down', and claiming a metal 'was quadrupled all over the year'. Additionally, spelling slips are present, such as 'neverthless' and 'repeadtedly'. While these lexical errors do not completely impede communication, they restrict the vocabulary score to a moderate band because precision and control over less common vocabulary are lacking. Expanding precise vocabulary related to graphs and avoiding spelling errors will improve this area.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting relative clauses and time-phrase introductions. However, control over grammar and sentence structures is inconsistent, with frequent errors that can cause some difficulty for the reader. There are persistent issues with subject-verb agreement, such as 'all three metals was fluctuated' and 'zinc was increased', as well as tense errors, incorrect verb forms like 'drop' instead of dropped, and inappropriate prepositions inside grammatical patterns ('at -1,5% changes', 'reach a low of around 0.5% in october to november'). Complex structures are often faulty rather than error-free. To achieve a higher standard, the writer must improve accuracy in basic verb tenses, passive constructions, and agreement rules while maintaining control over complex sentences.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.