Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-06

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 graph depicts the average monthly changes in price of nickel , copper, zinc in 2014.

At the very first beginning the highest price from the three elecments mentioned before is Nickel which is 6% followed by copper at second position which makes up 2% . Zinc has the least number which is 1% . Afterwards we can see a downward trend in nickel from January 2014 upto june 2014 . Moreover copper also followed the downward trend with some fluctuations . Whereas zinc reached at its apex at February 2014 which accounts for 3% . From January to june all three elements are almost similarly followed the downward trend . Then nickel had a gradual increase then stabilize itself. Also copper & zinc also have some gradual increase with some fluctuations. At the end of the period we can see that all three elements were at almost same number which is 1 - 2%

Overall we can see that they followed a downward trend over the period but shockingly nickel had plummeted over the period , anyhow they managed themselves to get a almost same number of percentage at the ending.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The response attempts to summarize the main features of the line graph showing monthly price changes for three metals, but it only partially addresses the task requirements. While it mentions the initial figures and some general trends, the overview is overly simplistic, stating that all elements followed a downward trend, which is inaccurate since zinc and copper showed significant upward movements in the latter half of the year. Furthermore, the descriptions lack precision; phrases like 'all three elements were at almost same number which is 1 - 2%' at the end of the period misread the graph, where individual trajectories diverged in December. To reach a higher level, the response needs to select and report data more accurately, provide a clearer and more accurate overview of overall trends, and make more precise comparisons between the three series throughout the entire period rather than relying on vague generalizations.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The writing demonstrates some organization with paragraphs separating the introduction, body details, and a brief conclusion, but there is no clear overall progression of ideas. The transitions between sentences feel disjointed due to repetitive and inadequate cohesive devices, such as starting multiple sentences with 'Afterwards we can see' and 'Moreover'. Additionally, referencing is occasionally unclear, such as when referring to 'all three elements' without properly distinguishing their separate paths. Paragraphing is also somewhat poorly managed, as the body of the response is compressed into a single dense block with inconsistent referencing of time periods. To improve Coherence and Cohesion, the writer should use a wider variety of logical connectors to sequence information smoothly, ensure clear referencing throughout, and structure the response into logical paragraphs that trace the data chronologically or thematically without abrupt leaps.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is limited and minimally adequate for the task. The student attempts some less common vocabulary, such as 'plummeted', 'apex', and 'fluctuations', but these are often accompanied by inaccuracies in word choice, spelling, and phrasing, such as 'elecments', 'least number', and 'stabilize itself'. There is also heavy repetition of basic terms like 'elements', 'trend', and 'number' when referring to percentage changes. Spelling errors like 'elecments' and punctuation issues detract from the clarity of the writing. To achieve a higher score, the writer needs to incorporate a wider and more precise range of vocabulary related to data trends—such as verbs and adverbs describing degree and speed of change—and ensure that less common lexical items are used accurately and naturally without awkward collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response displays a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying heavily on simple sentences and basic subject-verb-object patterns. Attempts at more complex sentences are often faulty, featuring frequent errors in grammar, punctuation, and articles, such as 'At the very first beginning', 'Zinc has the least number', and 'some gradual increase with some fluctuations'. There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and prepositional use within phrases, such as 'reached at its apex at February'. These frequent errors require the reader to occasionally pause and interpret the intended meaning. To progress, the writer must incorporate a greater variety of complex sentence structures with accurate subordination, improve control over tense consistency when describing past data, and eliminate basic grammatical slips by carefully proofreading the final text.

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