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 graph illustrates the average monthly shifts in prices of three metals copper, nickel and zinc throughtout 2014, compared with perivious month.

Overall nickel experience the most significant fluctuation as comared to copper and zinc.In the beginining prices were increase but after that, All the elements substantial decline in month of june, and from november to december the prices rose.

now, In the month of january nickel prices rose upto 6%, In contrast of copper which is 2% and the lowest price is zinc 1%. There is a dramatically decline of prices in the month of june specially nickle experienced -3% whereas, copper -0.5% and zinc -1%.

However, from july onward the prices recovered and remain positive, but in case if nickle , the prices are still in same negative figures about -1% until september, but in october the price even falls more about -2%.

In november and december the prices of all three elements improved. in december the highest price is of zinc about 2% followed by copper and nickel has lowest price of 1%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main pattern that nickel fluctuated most and report several relevant figures, including its January peak of 6% and June low of -3%. You also note the shared June downturn and the late-year recovery, so the response addresses the graph’s key features. However, some descriptions are unclear or inaccurate: prices did not generally increase at the beginning, since copper and zinc fell after January, and the claim that all three prices rose from November to December is incorrect because nickel stayed at about 1%. The overview would be stronger if it clearly summarised the contrasting early-year movements and the fact that all metals became negative around June, then recovered to varying degrees. Some comparisons are reported, but not all are developed precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing particular months and later trends. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression is not always clear because the account moves from January and June to July–October, then November–December without consistently grouping the data by meaningful stages. Linking phrases such as “However” and “In contrast” are used, but some connections are awkward or do not express the relationship accurately. For example, “from july onward the prices recovered and remain positive” is immediately qualified by nickel remaining negative. Use clearer topic sentences and organise the details into early-year changes, the mid-year fall, and the recovery, with references that make each comparison easy to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “fluctuation,” “decline,” “recovered,” and “improved,” and you make an effort to describe changes rather than simply list figures. However, spelling errors such as “throughtout,” “perivious,” “beginining,” and “nickle” are noticeable, while several word combinations are unnatural or imprecise: “prices were increase,” “lowest price is zinc,” and “the prices are still in same negative figures.” Repetition of “prices” and “month” also limits variety. These choices do not prevent the reader from understanding the main message, but they reduce precision and fluency. Practise accurate forms and collocations for describing percentage changes, such as “rose by,” “fell to,” and “remained below zero.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple statements and longer sentences, including comparisons and clauses introduced by “whereas” and “but.” However, control is inconsistent, particularly with verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence boundaries. Examples include “nickel experience” instead of “nickel experienced,” “prices were increase,” and “the prices rose” after a sentence fragment beginning “In contrast of copper.” The sentence about July onward also combines a claim and qualification in a way that is difficult to manage grammatically. Capitalisation after full stops is inconsistent, and commas sometimes join clauses that need clearer punctuation. Build accuracy first with complete subject–verb sentences, then combine them using correctly formed contrast and time clauses.

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