Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-08

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 information the montly percentage of the changing in the prices of three kind pf metals.

Overall, the nickel is the highest percentage but in the half of the year the prices drop and the second half of the year prices become stable aslo recovering slightly at the end of the year.

In january, the nickel is at the highest percentage followed by 6% while the zinc and copper shows 1% and 2%. Then in february, the nickel decrease to 4% while zinc and copper increase to 3% and 2%.

In june, the price of nickel fall to -3% while the copper drop to 0% and zinc -1%. In november, the price of nickel stable increased to 1% while the zinc rise to 1.5% and copper rise to 0.50% . At the end of the year the nickel remains constants while the copper rise to 1.5% and zinc increased to 2%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the three metals and include several relevant figures, including nickel’s January peak of 6%, its June low of -3%, and the metals’ November and December values. The overview also notes nickel’s mid-year fall and the later recovery. However, the summary is only partial: it does not describe the early-year direction of zinc and copper accurately (zinc rises to 3% in February, while copper falls to 1%), and it omits important patterns such as nickel’s sharp decline from January to June and the broadly negative period for all three metals around June to October. The claim that nickel is the highest “in the half of the year” is unclear. A fuller overview and more accurate comparisons across the year would make the key features clearer.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs that report selected monthly figures. Time markers such as “In january,” “In june,” and “In november” help the reader follow the chronology. However, the progression is somewhat uneven because the account jumps from February to June and then November, leaving the intervening trends unexplained. Some linking is also awkward or unclear, particularly “Overall, the nickel is the highest percentage but in the half of the year…” and “the price of nickel stable increased.” Organising the details into clearer early-year, mid-year, and late-year stages, and using more precise links between comparisons, would improve the flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “percentage,” “prices,” “drop,” “rise,” and “stable,” so the reader can generally understand the subject. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “the information the montly percentage of the changing,” “kind pf metals,” and “stable increased.” Spelling errors such as “montly” and “january” also reduce accuracy. Repetition of “rise” and “price” makes the description less precise. Build a wider set of accurate trend expressions and check spelling and word forms; for example, distinguish between a price “falling,” “remaining stable,” and “recovering” rather than combining these ideas in an unclear phrase.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences, and the basic meaning of many figures is recoverable. However, grammatical control is inconsistent, with frequent errors in sentence construction, verb forms, and agreement. For example, “the zinc and copper shows” should use a plural verb, while “the nickel decrease to 4%” needs a past-tense verb. The opening sentence lacks a clear grammatical structure, and “the price of nickel stable increased” does not form a correct clause. Articles and prepositions are also often missing or awkward, as in “in the half of the year.” Practise building complete subject–verb sentences and checking tense consistency when describing past data.

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