Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-11
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 rendered line graph depicts the change on the monthy basis in the price of three different metals namely, copper, nickle and zinc in 2014.
Overall, the percentage change in the price of nickle, copper and zinc showed a downward trend. In addition, the price of nickle fell dramatically, while copper and zinc experienced fluctuations during the given period of time.
In january, the price of nickle chnaged from 6% to 1% in the following months. After that it remained constant for 1 month and decerased dramatically to -3% in june. It
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0
The response identifies the chart’s subject and gives an overview, noting that nickel fell sharply while copper and zinc fluctuated. It also reports nickel’s January figure of 6% and its fall to -3% in June, which are relevant details. However, the account stops mid-sentence (“It”), so most of the year and the other two metals are not described; the overview’s claim that all three showed a downward trend is also too broad, since copper ended above its January level and zinc rose in the final months. The response is only 92 words, below the required 150, and therefore provides very limited coverage of the task. Include a complete summary with key comparisons across the year.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
There is a basic, recognisable structure: an introduction is followed by an overview and then a detail paragraph. The opening “Overall” helps signal the summary, and “In addition” connects the two overview points. However, the final paragraph ends abruptly with “It”, leaving the sequence incomplete and preventing a clear progression through the data. The response also gives no organised comparison of copper and zinc with nickel, and the link between the general overview and the single detailed example is weak. To improve, group the figures into clear stages or compare the metals directly, then use linking phrases to guide the reader through a complete account.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The response uses some relevant chart vocabulary, including “percentage change”, “downward trend”, “fluctuations” and “remained constant”. These choices show an attempt to describe movement rather than simply list figures. However, the range is narrow because the response covers very little of the graph, and several spelling errors reduce accuracy: “monthy”, “nickle”, “chnaged” and “decerased”. Some phrasing is also awkward, such as “change on the monthy basis” and “in the following months”. Use precise terms such as “monthly price changes”, “declined”, “recovered” and “rose”, and check spelling carefully. A broader set of accurate trend verbs would make comparisons clearer and more natural.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The response includes some controlled sentence forms, including the complex overview sentence beginning “In addition” and the sequence “After that it remained constant…”. The main ideas are generally understandable, and the past tense is mostly appropriate for describing 2014. However, the range is limited, with several short, simple statements and little development of comparisons. There are also punctuation and sentence-boundary issues: the final “It” is left as an incomplete sentence, and a comma is needed after “After that”. The introductory sentence would be clearer with a more controlled structure. Practise completing each sentence and combining related figures using accurate clauses, while checking punctuation and tense consistency.
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