Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The line graph illustrates variation in the cost of three metals namely copper, nickel and zinc in the year 2014. Overall, there are considerable variations among all three metals. The price of nickel dropped dramatically whereas copper and zinc prices followed a meager change.

From january to june, nickel prices fell drastically from 6% to -3%. In sharp contrast to this, zinc and copper continued to decrease steeply from 1 and reached to -1% in june.

From june to December , Nickel prices rose slightly to-1% then followed a uniform pattern and decreased to -2 which then rose considerably to 1% in december.Similarly, copper and zinc followed a considerable unparallel pattern. Zinc prices surged from -1 to 2 in december which was highest percentage noticed . similarly, copper prices also followed a decreased pattern and end at 1.5%.

To sumup, all three metals showed variations.among all nickel prices dropped dramatically.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the three metals and give an overview that nickel fell sharply while copper and zinc changed less overall. You also include several relevant figures, such as nickel’s fall from 6% to about −3% and zinc’s rise to 2% in December. However, some comparisons are inaccurate or unclear: from January to June, copper fell from 2% to about −0.5%, while zinc moved from 1% to about −1%; they did not both decrease steeply from 1%. The account also misses important features, including nickel’s strong early lead and the late-year recovery in both nickel and zinc. The overview is weakened by saying copper and zinc had only slight change without explaining their mid-year falls. Select the main turning points and compare them more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by two time-based paragraphs and a brief conclusion. This gives the reader a basic route through the year. However, progression is not consistently clear because some sentences combine several movements without precise links, as in the account of nickel after June. Connectors such as “Similarly” are also used where the trends are not actually alike, and the final sentence repeats the earlier point about nickel rather than adding a useful summary. Paragraphing could more clearly separate the first-half decline from the later recovery. Use linking expressions to show contrast or sequence accurately, and make each paragraph focus on a clear comparison.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable set of trend vocabulary, including “dropped dramatically,” “rose slightly,” “surged,” and “followed a uniform pattern,” so the main movements are often understandable. However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing a graph: “meager change,” “considerable unparallel pattern,” and “followed a decreased pattern” do not clearly express the data. “Cost” is less precise than “price” in this context, and “highest percentage noticed” is an awkward way to identify a peak. There is also repetition of “dramatically” and “followed.” Aim for precise, conventional collocations such as “fluctuated,” “remained stable,” “recovered,” and “reached a peak,” choosing each according to the actual trend.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast structure beginning “In sharp contrast to this,” and a concluding summary. However, errors in sentence construction and punctuation are frequent enough to make some relationships difficult to follow. For example, “zinc and copper continued to decrease steeply from 1 and reached to -1%” has an unclear subject-to-figure relationship and an incorrect verb pattern; “then rose considerably to 1% in december.Similarly” also needs sentence separation and punctuation. There are inconsistent capital letters for “Nickel,” missing spaces after full stops, and awkward article and preposition patterns. Practise building one clear sentence for each trend, with accurate past-tense verbs and punctuation, before adding more complex comparisons.

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