Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-13

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 4.0)

The line graph shows the average monthly change in the prices of three metals during 2014.

Overall, the prices of metals dropped in the June but the cost of nickel dropped significantly and hardly sustained till the end of the year.

In February, the cost of zinc increased 2% as compared to January

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

You identify the graph’s subject and attempt an overall observation about a June decline, but the response covers very little of the task. The claim that prices dropped in June is broadly supported, although the metals did not all behave alike: copper and nickel fell, while zinc also declined, and the later movements are not described. The statement that nickel “hardly sustained till the end of the year” is unclear and does not accurately summarise its recovery in November and December. The February zinc figure is also misreported: it rose by about two percentage points from January, reaching roughly 3%, rather than increasing by 2% as a monthly change. At 40 words, the response is 110 words short of the required minimum; develop an overview and compare the metals across the year.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

The response has a basic sequence: it introduces the graph, gives an overall comment, and then mentions a specific month. This provides a small amount of organisation, and the opening makes the topic clear. However, the final sentence is an isolated detail rather than part of a developed account, and there is no clear progression through the main stages of the year or comparison among the three metals. The link between the overview and the February example is also weak. To improve, organise the report into an introduction, an overview, and one or two detail paragraphs, grouping related trends and using clear time references such as “from January to June” and “towards the end of the year.”

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some relevant vocabulary, including “line graph,” “average monthly change,” “prices,” and “increased,” so the topic is generally recognisable. However, the range is very limited, and several choices are imprecise or unnatural for describing a graph. “The cost of nickel dropped significantly” is less suitable than describing its monthly price change, while “hardly sustained” does not clearly express the trend. Repeating “cost” and “prices” also limits variety. Build a more precise set of trend terms, such as “fell sharply,” “remained stable,” “recovered,” and “fluctuated,” and use them with accurate comparisons and figures. This would make the limited information clearer and more appropriate to an academic report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response includes a simple opening sentence and an attempt at a more complex overview, so there is some sentence variety. Meaning is generally understandable, but grammatical control is uneven. In “prices of metals dropped in the June,” the article is unnecessary; write “prices of the metals fell in June.” The phrase “the cost of nickel dropped significantly and hardly sustained till the end of the year” has an unclear structure: it is not clear what “sustained” refers to, and the two ideas are not joined accurately. The final sentence also needs clearer grammatical framing, for example, “In February, zinc’s price change was about two percentage points higher than in January.” Practise articles, clause structure, and comparisons to make sentences more precise.

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