Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-05

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 trends of percentage price fluctuation of copper, nickel and zinc metals over the twelve month period duration of year 2014.

To begin with nickel, the most abrupt changes can be seen from it's line and circle symbol graph. The prices dropped till march from 6% to 1% and then they remain at constant of 1% for next month of april. After april, the prices begin to drop negatively and reached the least of -3% for the June. Furthermore, from july to october the prices stayed higher than june but still in a loss. For november and december the prices gradually increase to positive 1%.

Additionally, copper showed less percentage fluctations in comparison to other two metals. The highest prices are seen for january which then continue to decrease and reached approximately -0.5% for june. From june onward the increased significantly after staying constant for the months of july, august and september and then for next three monthe the trends atte intermixed raching the approximate of 1.5% for december.

Lastly, zinc prices are 3% increased for febrauary in comparision to january and the begin to decrease negatively and reached to -1% for october. After october it follwed somehow similar gradual trends likewise nickel but reached 2% increament for month of december.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The response addresses the task partially, as it attempts to describe the main trends for all three metals, but some of the details are inaccurate or inadequately supported. For instance, the description of nickel contains inaccuracies, stating the prices dropped until March from 6% to 1% while the graph shows a more fluctuating pattern with a peak in January followed by drops, and some descriptions of data points are vague or confused, such as the statement regarding copper where it mentions the trends are 'intermixed'. Furthermore, while there is a general overview attempted, key features and clear comparisons between the three metals are not fully developed or highlighted, keeping the overall task response limited.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response demonstrates some organisation with a logical paragraph structure, using distinct paragraphs to introduce the topic and discuss each metal individually ('To begin with nickel', 'Additionally, copper', 'Lastly, zinc'). Cohesive devices are used to guide the reader through the data, such as sequencing words and transition phrases like 'After april' and 'Furthermore'. However, referencing and cohesion are occasionally mechanical or slightly repetitive, and the logical progression within paragraphs falters at times due to confusing descriptions of the line movements. To move to a higher band, the overall arrangement of comparisons needs to be smoother, and cohesive devices should be integrated with greater precision and flexibility without relying on repetitive transitional structures.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is minimally adequate for the task, with a limited range that attempts some topic-specific items such as 'fluctuation', 'abrupt changes', and 'gradually increase'. However, there are noticeable lexical errors, awkward word choices, and spelling mistakes throughout the response, such as 'febrauary', 'increament', and 'monthe'. The phrase 'dropped negatively' is semantically imprecise. These errors do not completely block communication, but they restrict the response to a lower band. To achieve a higher score, the writer needs to expand their range of vocabulary, improve spelling accuracy, and use precise collocations and word forms when describing statistical data and trends.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writing exhibits a limited range of sentence structures, relying heavily on simple and moderately complex sentences. There are frequent grammatical and punctuation errors that cause some difficulty for the reader, including missing articles, incorrect prepositions, and problems with verb forms and subject-verb agreement, such as 'from it's line' (apostrophe error), 'prices remain at constant', and 'zinc prices are 3% increased'. Additionally, tense consistency is occasionally disrupted. To reach the next band, the student must demonstrate a wider mix of error-free complex structures and exercise much better control over basic grammatical patterns, punctuation, and word-level agreements.

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