Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-14

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 is the graph which you can assume as the line graph which descibes the delibrately average monthly change in the prices of three metals (copper,nickeland zinc) in 2014.

Undeniably,the first line i am going to explain to you is of copper.There is continous change in the rates of the copper.However ,when we see that in (January) the price of the copper is (2%) and as follows by next months it is consistently decreasing till upto the July month .From july to ownwards September the prics of the copper are consistent and at same line approximately(1%).Then it drops from there to approximately(0.5%) that is below zero ,It rises in November upto December about(1.5%) but not reached the same percentage as in the strarting.

The second line which is showing us the prices of the Zinc .From the start of the January the rates of the zinc are (1%) which is not below (0%) .It then suddenly increases its price upto (3%) relatively compairing to the copper .

Then there is a downfall of the prices of the zinc from Feburary ti March and it decreases upto (1%) in March as it is in starting.Surprisingly,the prices not arose but delibrately decreases more lesser than the copper which is approximately (-1%) in June and from July to October (0.5%) with a slight increse but the downfall of the prices of the zinc was literally shocking in the market of all these metals.At last ,it increases from october to onwards December with a percentage reaching upto (2%) where it starts at the stat.

The Third line is of the Nickel which is showing the consistent downfall as starting from the January which is(6%) .From there it continously decreases upto (4%)in Feburary ,(1%) in March to April at same rate ,from there it decreases up to (-3%) in June which is the lowest rate comapring the other two metals .It then increases From June to July at percent of(-1%).From July to onwards September it reamins at the (-1%) and the again a slight decrement which is (-2%) in October .The prices started rising from the October to November at(1%) and at last it remains balanced in december with the same percent.

To sum up,the greatest downfall is of the nickel in the metal market which is very destroying for them.Whereas,the copper has the balanced graph with respect to both of the metals .The Zinc also maintains its reputation in the market in 2014 but there is greater decrement and increment in prices.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You cover all three metals and report several key movements, including nickel’s sharp fall to about −3% in June and copper’s relatively small fluctuations. However, some figures and trends are misreported: copper falls only to around −0.5% in May and June, then rises to 1% in July, rather than decreasing until July; its September value is about 1%, not a level reached only from July onward. Zinc is around −0.5% from July to September, not 0.5%, and the claim that copper did not regain its starting percentage is inaccurate because it ends at about 1.5%, below its initial 2%. The overview is also weakened by unsupported market comments such as “destroying for them.” Select the main comparisons more accurately and summarise them neutrally.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: it introduces the graph, discusses each metal in separate paragraphs, and ends with a summary. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression within paragraphs is often difficult to follow because transitions are repetitive or awkward, as in “From there,” “at last,” and “from July to onwards September.” Some sentences combine several months and changes without clear punctuation, while the final paragraph introduces market judgements rather than drawing together the main trends. Use a concise overview after the introduction, group related periods, and connect comparisons explicitly—for example, contrast nickel’s steep decline with copper’s more stable pattern. Clearer sentence boundaries and more precise referencing would make the organisation easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing movement, including “decreases,” “increases,” “consistent,” and “downfall,” so the general subject is usually understandable. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “the prices not arose,” “maintains its reputation,” and “destroying for them.” Repeated use of “prices,” “rates,” and “from there” also makes the account less precise. Spelling errors—including “delibrately,” “continously,” “Feburary,” and “comapring”—are noticeable and sometimes slow the reader. Aim for accurate chart language and natural collocations, such as “rose to,” “remained stable,” “fell sharply,” and “recovered.” Avoid adding market interpretations that the graph does not show.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt longer sentences and use time clauses to describe changes across the year, but complex structures are often faulty and the range of reliably controlled sentence patterns is limited. For example, “The second line which is showing us the prices of the Zinc” is a fragment, while “From the start of the January the rates of the zinc are (1%)” has problems with articles and tense. In “The prices started rising from the October to November,” the prepositions and sentence construction are not controlled. Missing or misplaced commas and spaces around punctuation also make some sentences harder to read. Practise complete subject–verb sentences in the past tense, and separate each main change into a clear sentence before attempting longer comparisons.

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