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 given Line graph depicts the average monthly shift in rates of three different metals in a year 2014, From January to December.

Overall, It is clear that Nickel showed an major drop throughout the year, While Other two remained almost constant in given timespan.

In January, Nickel was at 6 percent, Zinc and Copper was at 1 and 2 percent respectively. In following month, Price of Zinc was slightly climbed and went to 3 percent, Whereas remaining metal's price were decreased. Moreover, Nickel's rate fell to -3 percent in June and then went up and showed minor inconsistancy, then ended up with 1%. After February, Zinc showed similar pattern as Nickel and ended up with 2% of change, before went down to -1%. Whereas, percentage of Copper showed decrease till June and then surged to 1 and for few months stayed constant then it reached and finished the timespan with almost 1.6%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main contrast between nickel’s larger fluctuations and the comparatively modest changes in copper and zinc, and you include several relevant figures, such as nickel’s January peak and June low. However, the overview is not fully accurate: nickel did not show a major drop throughout the year, since it recovered to positive changes in November and December. The account also misorders events when it says zinc ended at 2% “before” falling to -1%; the negative period came earlier, before its late-year rise. Copper’s final figure is described as almost 1.6%, which is close to the chart, but its early decline and later recovery could be reported more clearly. A more precise overview and clearer selection of the metals’ key stages would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable overall shape: an introduction, an overview, and a body that moves through the year and compares the metals. Linking expressions such as “Moreover,” “Whereas,” and “then” help show relationships between details. However, the progression is sometimes difficult to follow because several trends are compressed into long sentences, and the sequence of zinc’s fall and recovery is unclear. The final “Whereas” sentence is also attached to the preceding information rather than clearly separated as a comparison. Organise the body into clearer stages—for example, early-year changes and the mid-to-late-year pattern—and use references such as “this figure” or “the metal” only when their meaning is unmistakable.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “average monthly shift,” “remained almost constant,” “fell,” “surged,” and “ended up.” These choices communicate the broad movements, but some expressions are imprecise or unnatural for describing a graph. “Inconsistancy” is not the right form for the intended meaning, and “price was slightly climbed” is an awkward collocation. “Rates” and “price” are also used inconsistently where “percentage change” would be more precise. Spelling and word-form slips, including “inconsistancy,” reduce accuracy. Aim for consistent chart language and precise verbs such as “rose,” “declined,” “fluctuated,” and “recovered,” while avoiding repeated general phrases such as “went up.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex sentences, including clauses linked with “whereas” and “then,” but control is uneven and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences awkward. Examples include “Zinc and Copper was” instead of a plural verb, “Nickel showed an major drop,” and “before went down,” which needs a subject and a correctly formed verb. Capitalisation is also inconsistent after commas, as in “2014, From” and “Overall, It.” Several sentences combine multiple events without clear grammatical structure, particularly the sentence beginning “After February.” Practise accurate subject–verb agreement, articles, and verb forms, and divide long sentences so each comparison has a clear subject and action.

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