Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-09
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 graph below shows the average monthly change in the prices of three metals copper, zinc and nickel during 2014.
After carefully examining, we see that there is a big drop in the percentage changes in nickel price. In the month of january, the price is the highest and drastically dropped in the following months ans is the lowest in the month of june.
For zinc, the price is initially low and then spiked up in the month of febuary. In the following years the price goes down again and lowest ib the months of june and october.
The percentage change in the price of copper fluctuates between -1 and 0. it is the highest in january and lowest in the months of may and june.
In the months of july, august and september, we see a pattern in the percentage changes. which is that the price change percentage of each matel is same. For example the percentages for nickel is stuck at -1, copper at 1 and zinc between -1 and 0 respectively.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5
You identify several relevant features, including nickel’s sharp fall from its January peak to a low in June and copper’s relatively small fluctuations. However, the account is only partially accurate and does not provide a clear overall summary of the metals’ contrasting patterns. Copper does not fluctuate between -1 and 0: it is mostly positive, reaching about 2% in January and falling to around -0.5% in May and June. Nickel’s lowest point is about -3% in June, while zinc’s lows are around -1% in June and October. The claim that all three metals show the same pattern from July to September is also misleading. Select the main trends accurately and compare the series more carefully.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response is divided into short sections, with each paragraph focusing on a metal or a period, so the reader can identify the topic of each part. Basic linking phrases such as “For zinc” and “In the following months” help connect ideas. However, there is no clear overview to guide the report, and the sequence moves from nickel to zinc to copper before adding a comparison, rather than grouping the main trends logically. Some connections are unclear, particularly the final sentence about the metals’ percentages being “same.” Improve progression by giving an overview first, then grouping the metals by their trends and using precise comparisons between them.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use some relevant vocabulary for describing graphs, including “percentage changes,” “fluctuates,” “spiked up,” and “lowest.” This shows an attempt to use task-related language, but the range is limited and some choices are informal or imprecise. “Big drop” and “stuck at” are less suitable for an academic report; “declined sharply” and “remained at” would be more appropriate. There are also spelling errors, including “january,” “febuary,” “ans,” and “matel,” which reduce accuracy. Take care to use precise terms for changes in percentage rather than referring to the metal’s “price” alone, and check spelling before submitting.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
Most sentences communicate a basic idea, and you attempt some longer structures, such as “In the following months…” and “For example…”. However, the range is limited, with repeated simple sentence patterns and several errors in sentence construction and punctuation. For example, “After carefully examining, we see” lacks a clear object for “examining,” while “which is that the price change percentage…” is an incomplete sentence after the preceding full stop. Capitalisation and punctuation are also inconsistent, as in “june” and the lower-case “which” beginning a new sentence. Practise combining comparisons into complete sentences and use consistent past-tense reporting for the 2014 data.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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