Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-12

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)

Introduction:

The line graph illustrates Average Monthly Variation during 2014 in the Prices of three metals.

Overview:

Overall the most noticeable feature is that Nickel experienced alot of fluctuation in Prices Where as Copper and Zinc remained comparatively stable throughout all 12 months.

Looking at the figures in detail, If we notice Nickel deep down, At the starting month of january the price is at 6 compared with previouse month, But just after that It fell Significantly and at the month of June the prices decreased at it lowest to minus three. Copper and Zinc are comparatively more stable and not gain alot of movment in the price range, After the first month Zinc had gained a litlle rise but after that it came down in actual position and without any massive movment it covers all the time period of 2014 and end at the price range of 2. Copper fell just after the start but at the month of july it experienced little bit of a rise came and then copper ended at the price range of 1.5 in 2014.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main contrast: nickel fluctuates much more than copper and zinc, and you report its January peak and June low. You also describe the metals’ later movements and give end-of-year figures. These are relevant features and support a clear overall summary. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: copper ends at about 1.5%, not 1%, and it does not simply “fall just after the start”—it declines to around 0.5% in March and April, then turns negative in May and June. The account of zinc’s early rise and subsequent movement is also vague, and the overview could better capture the shared mid-year falls and late-year recovery. More precise comparisons would develop the response more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and a detail paragraph, and it moves broadly from the overall pattern to individual metals. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, the detail paragraph is overloaded: nickel, zinc and copper are discussed in long, loosely connected sentences, so comparisons and changes are difficult to follow. Linking phrases such as “but just after that” and “after that” are repetitive, while capital letters after commas interrupt the flow. Organise the details into clearer stages—for example, nickel’s sharp decline and the metals’ mid-year falls, followed by their recovery—and use references such as “the other two metals” only when the comparison is clear.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “fluctuation,” “decreased,” “stable” and “price range,” and the reader can generally understand the trends you intend to describe. However, the range is limited and several choices are imprecise or unnatural for describing a graph. Phrases such as “deep down,” “not gain alot of movment,” “came down in actual position” and “covers all the time period” do not clearly express the data. Spelling errors, including “previouse,” “litlle” and “movment,” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise trend language and standard spelling; for example, describe a figure as reaching a low, remaining relatively stable, or recovering, rather than using vague expressions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, and the main message is usually recoverable. However, complex sentences are often poorly controlled, with unclear clause relationships and punctuation problems. For example, “At the starting month of january the price is at 6 compared with previouse month, But just after that It fell…” joins several ideas awkwardly, and “at the month of july it experienced little bit of a rise came” has a faulty verb construction. There are also inconsistent tense choices, such as “is at” alongside past-tense descriptions, and missing articles in phrases like “at its lowest.” Use consistent past tense for the 2014 data, and divide long sentences into shorter, grammatically complete comparisons.

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