Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-07

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 changes of price of three metals( Copper, Nickel, Zinc) throughout the years of 2014 of every month.

Overall, The price of Nickel is high in January compared to the other metals it's price was decreased throughout the period. Remaining, metals like Copper price was less although it's price was fluctuated between all months and finally decreased marginally. The Zinc price was cheaper than other in January but in December it was increased slightly.

Initially, in 2014 January the price percentage of Nickel started at 6%. In following month of February the cost was decreased sharply and it continued next month. Similarly, upto June month it's price was decreased dramatically to -3% and it was rosed by 2 to -1 in July and it remained unchanged to September. At the end the price was decreased and stood at 1% in December.

Subsequently, In January Copper price percentage started at 2% and it started decreasing gradually up to June month to -0.5 and the price raised 1% and it remained unchanged by three months. Eventually, the cost decreased marginally by followed two months in December it stood at 1.8%. The Zinc faced increased in cost at finally. In contrast, the price started at 1% in January and it increased quickly by 2% in February from that the price started decreasing gradually to June month and stood at -1% it was increased in followed month and remained stable following three months and finally the price percentage was increased and stood at 2%

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover all three metals and identify the main contrast: nickel begins far above the others, while all three show weaker or negative changes around mid-year and recover towards December. Several figures are accurately reported, including nickel’s fall to about -3% in June and zinc’s rise to 2% in December. However, the overview is not fully clear or consistently accurate: nickel did not decrease throughout the period, since it rose in November, and copper ended at about 1.5%, not 1.8%. The claim that copper “finally decreased marginally” also obscures its late recovery. To strengthen the response, make the overview more precise and compare the metals’ overall patterns, while checking that each stated trend matches the graph.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate descriptions of the metals. This helps the reader follow the broad sequence, and time markers such as “Initially,” “Subsequently,” and “At the end” show an attempt to guide the account. However, the progression is sometimes mechanical, and the final paragraph shifts from copper to zinc without a clear transition, making the comparison harder to follow. Some references are also unclear, as in “it remained unchanged to September” and “the price raised 1%.” Grouping the metals by shared stages—early changes, mid-year falls, and year-end recovery—and using clearer links between comparisons would make the organisation more cohesive.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “percentage,” “decreased sharply,” “remained unchanged,” and “increased gradually,” so the main trends are generally understandable. There are also attempts to vary expressions for movement. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or repetitive: “the price was cheaper” is unsuitable for a percentage change, “faced increased in cost” is awkward, and “the price raised” does not express the intended movement naturally. Repeated use of “price” and “decreased” also limits flexibility. Choose precise terms such as “monthly change,” “fell,” “rose,” and “recovered,” and use “stood at” for reported values. This would improve clarity and control without requiring unusually advanced vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the response communicates the general movement of the lines. However, control of sentence structure is uneven, particularly when several events are joined together. For example, “Similarly, upto June month it's price was decreased dramatically to -3% and it was rosed by 2 to -1 in July” contains problems with tense, passive construction, and clause linking. There are also errors in articles, agreement, and punctuation, such as “In January Copper price percentage started” and the comma splice in “At the end the price was decreased and stood at 1% in December.” Practise forming concise past-tense sentences with clear subjects and use full stops or conjunctions to separate related points.

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.