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 graph illustrates the month- to-month change in the price of the three metals zinc,copper,nickel during 2014.
Overall nickel was generually fluctuating among the three metals. By starting at rise of year and significant delines in the middle months. Zinc was fluctuing modertliey throughout the year and gained more profits at the end of the year. Copper was more stabilized throughout the year with the slight changes in the middle months.
At the start of the year nickel was the highest monthly increase with approximetly 6% in january. before falling to 4% in the month of febuary. By the month of may it was dropped to 1% and mainted the same in the month of april and stabilized in the month may and dramatically price dopped to -3% in june and slight increase to -1% in upcoming three months and major drop to -2% in october and ended up 1% in the last months.
Copper was started with 2% at the start of the year and a slight changes till the mid of the year and raised in the coming months and ended with 1.5% approxmitley
zinc had started with the 1% and raised dramatically to 3% in the month of february and a mojor drop down in the month june and slight changes in upcoming months and ended up with 2%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
The response addresses all parts of the task by selecting and reporting the main features of the three metals shown in the graph during 2014, providing an overview as well as specific details. However, some aspects are developed more fully than others. The overview captures the general trends, noting that nickel fluctuated the most, zinc gained at the end of the year, and copper remained relatively stable. Nevertheless, certain details in the body paragraphs lack precision or clarity, such as the confusing sequence of months described for nickel, where April and May are mentioned out of chronological order and with contradictory descriptions. While the main trends are covered, the lack of complete accuracy and thorough development in every section places this part of the response firmly in the middle category.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The response maintains a coherent overall arrangement and follows a logical structure, beginning with an introductory statement, followed by an overview paragraph, and concluding with detailed body paragraphs for each metal. Paragraphing is used adequately to separate the overview from the specific data points. However, cohesion is sometimes faulty or mechanical, with a heavy reliance on repetitive sequencing phrases such as 'At the start of the year', 'By the month of', and 'ended up with'. Additionally, referencing and logical transitions between sentences within the body paragraphs occasionally break down, leading to choppy phrasing that impedes smooth reading and progression.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing the student to communicate basic trends and figures, such as 'fluctuating', 'stabilized', and 'dramatically'. However, there is a limited range with frequent errors in word choice, spelling, and word form. Numerous spelling mistakes appear throughout the text, including 'generually', 'delines', 'flucutuing', 'modertliey', 'approximetly', 'febuary', 'mainted', 'dopped', 'approxmitley', and 'mojor'. Furthermore, some collocations and expressions are awkward or imprecise, such as 'gained more profits' when referring to percentage price changes on a graph. These lexical inaccuracies reflect a restricted repertoire that occasionally hinders effective communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The writing demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting to connect various data points across the year. However, there are frequent errors in grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. Examples of structural issues include fragmented or run-on sentences, such as 'By starting at rise of year and significant delines in the middle months' and 'before falling to 4% in the month of febuary. By the month of may it was dropped...'. Errors in prepositions and verb voice are also noticeable, such as 'Copper was started with 2%' instead of the active past tense 'started at'. While these errors do not completely obscure the intended meaning, they occur frequently enough to cause occasional difficulty for the reader.
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