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)

This line graph illustrates the average change in price of three metal (copper,zinc,nickel) during 2014.

Overall,Nickel started from proportion of 6% and follwed dramatically reduced behaviour, while ZInc and Copper fluctuated little bit .

Nickel stated from 6% surged price and then slightly decreased to 4% in the 2nd month, Then heavily fell down to 1% and remaind constant until april but slightly reduced to base price in may, In june nickel faced a plummted decreased in june at -3% from base price then gradually followed upward trend and remaind constant for three months at -1% until september. In octuber it started from -2 then significently rose to 1% at close the year in that range.

Copper and Zinc both started at 2% and 1% repectively, While zinc took its price to 3% but copper experienced gradual decrease of 1 % , after that price of copper fluctuated throught out whole and close the year at atmost 2%. In case of zinc after 3% in 2nd month it faced sudden drop and reaced at -1% and remained almost contant to that price then after significent increase it reached at nearly 2% and closed the year at 2%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main contrast: nickel changes much more sharply than copper and zinc, and you describe the broad fall and later recovery. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear. Nickel did not “surge” from 6% at the start; it began at its peak and then fell. Its -1% period lasted from July to September, not immediately after June, and it rose to 1% in November. Copper and zinc did not both start at 2%: their January figures were about 2% and 1%, respectively. The overview also misses the shared mid-year move into negative territory and the late-year recovery. Select the key turning points more precisely and give a clearer overall summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an opening, an overview and separate discussion of nickel and the other two metals. This helps the reader follow the broad comparison. However, progression within the long middle paragraphs is weakened by run-on sentences and unclear links between events. For example, the nickel account moves through several months in one sentence, while “then” and “after that” are repeated without always making the timing clear. The copper and zinc comparison also shifts between the two series without a consistent pattern. Use shorter sentences and organise the details by stages—early-year movement, mid-year decline and late-year recovery—to make the sequence easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You attempt a range of trend vocabulary, including “fluctuated,” “gradually,” “upward trend” and “significant increase,” which is appropriate for describing a graph. However, inaccurate word choice, collocation and spelling are frequent enough to make some descriptions difficult to interpret. Phrases such as “surged price,” “plummted decreased,” “reached at” and “atmost 2%” are not natural or precise, and errors such as “remaind,” “octuber” and “contant” reduce clarity. Choose standard graph language and check spelling carefully. For example, describe a value as “rose to” or “fell to,” rather than combining verbs or adding an unnecessary preposition.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt longer sentences and use time clauses, but control is limited: complex sentences often contain several errors, and punctuation makes some relationships hard to follow. Examples include “Nickel stated from 6% surged price and then slightly decreased,” which lacks a clear grammatical connection, and “In octuber it started from -2 then significently rose,” where clauses need clearer punctuation and structure. There are also problems with articles, plurals and sentence boundaries, as in “three metal” and the comma-spliced opening overview. Build sentences around a clear subject and verb, use full stops to separate stages, and check agreement and articles. More accurate simple sentences would improve clarity while you develop complex forms.

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