Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 chart illustrates information about monthly price changes of three different metals in 2014.

In general, all three metals exhibited varying trends in price changes over the year, while nickel shows significant changes. In contrast, copper and zinc shows generally pattern over the year. In addition, both figure shown an upward trend and reach the cooper metal at the end of year.

Looking at the details, nickel started with highest positive chance with 6%. This figure dropped significantly to -3% in June, while showed an upward trend and stood at 1% positive chance at December. Cooper was second highest positive chance with 2% at started month, after that this figure decreased to dramatically to -0.5% in march. Moreover, this figure shown an upward trend and reach at 1.5% in last month of the year.

In January, zinc has the lowest positive chance compare to cooper and nickel at 1%. This figure shown similar trend to the end of August. Whereas, zinc rose significantly to 2% in December.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main contrast between nickel’s marked fluctuations and the more moderate movements of copper and zinc, and you include several relevant figures, such as nickel’s 6% start and June low of about -3%. However, some key details are inaccurate or unclear: copper falls to around -0.5% in May, not March, and then ends at about 1.5%; it does not reach that level together with the other metals. The overview claim that both copper and zinc show an upward trend is too broad, since both decline into negative territory mid-year. The statement that zinc follows a similar trend only to August is also vague and omits its later fall and recovery. Select and compare the main stages more precisely to develop the summary fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate detail paragraphs for nickel and copper, then zinc. This makes the information reasonably easy to follow. You also use sequencing and contrast markers such as “In general,” “Looking at the details,” and “Whereas.” However, some links are mechanical or do not clarify the relationship between ideas. For example, “This figure” is repeated several times without always making the metal or period clear, and “This figure shown similar trend to the end of August” leaves the comparison difficult to interpret. The overview also combines several claims without a clear hierarchy. Use more precise referencing and organise the details around shared periods or contrasts to create smoother progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant chart vocabulary, including “exhibited,” “dropped significantly,” and “upward trend,” so the reader can generally understand the topic and direction of movement. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate enough to make parts of the report awkward: “positive chance” is not suitable for a price change, “reach at” is unnatural, and “cooper” is repeatedly misspelled. “Generally pattern” also does not express the intended idea clearly. Aim for precise terms such as “percentage change,” “rose,” “fell,” “fluctuated,” and “ended at.” Vary the verbs used to describe movement and check spelling of the metal names so that the data is reported clearly and naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex sentences, including clauses with “while” and “whereas,” but control is inconsistent. Agreement errors appear in “copper and zinc shows” and “both figure shown,” while verb forms are faulty in “nickel shows” when describing the past year and “this figure shown.” Some sentence patterns are also incomplete or awkward, as in “while showed an upward trend,” and the phrase “decreased to dramatically” combines forms incorrectly. These errors sometimes make the intended relationships harder to follow. Practise consistent past-tense reporting and check subject–verb agreement, articles, and sentence construction. More accurate control of these patterns would make your range of structures more effective.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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