Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-15

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 provided line graph demostrates that how much monthly price had changed of three metals including: copper,nickel and zinc during the year 2014.

Overall, it is evident that price of each metal fluctuated during the whole year. The price of copper and zinc was relatively low in the beginning of the year while, nickle was very expensive at the same time. At the end of the year, each metal's price fall at approxiamately same price.

The close of inspection of the graph reveals that, copper's price decrease steadily till for first four months, before falling to 0% in june. There was sharp rose in june and remained constant for the next three months and rate increased steadily at the end of year. The price of zinc grew sharply in first month and then fell considerably at below -1% and reamined stable for next three months. After october, price surged dramtically and end at 2% at december.

In contrast to nickle,it followed opposite pattern. The price fell continuously during the first half year and calculated at -3%, After june, it grew steadily and remained constant till september and then fell at -1% in following month.After october, price rose dramtically and reamined constant in the last 2 months of the year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the three metals and give an overview that recognises fluctuation and nickel’s unusually high starting point. You also report several key movements, including nickel’s fall to about −3% in June and zinc’s recovery to around 2% in December. However, some descriptions misread the data: copper does not fall steadily through the first four months, since it declines from 2% to 0.5% and then stays level; it reaches −0.5% in May and June. Zinc does not fall below −1% before stabilising, and the claim that all three finish at approximately the same rate is inaccurate. The overview and comparisons need to be more precise, with the main trends accurately selected and reported.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs describing copper and zinc before nickel. This gives the reader a recognisable progression through the information. You also use contrast and sequencing markers such as “In contrast,” “After October,” and “at the end of the year.” However, some links are mechanical or unclear, and the copper and zinc discussion combines two series without consistently distinguishing their movements. Punctuation around transitions is also uneven, for example “In contrast to nickle,it” and “After october, price rose…”. Grouping the metals by shared phases—early-year changes, the mid-year decline, and the late recovery—would make comparisons easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of trend vocabulary, including “fluctuated,” “remained constant,” “fell continuously,” and “surged,” so the reader can generally understand the changes being described. Some choices, however, are inaccurate or unnatural for describing percentage changes. “The price … was very expensive” confuses a price level with the rate of change, while “fell … at below −1%” and “sharp rose” are not appropriate collocations. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “demostrates,” “nickle,” “approxiamately,” and “dramtically.” These reduce precision and sometimes make the intended trend harder to interpret. Use standard graph language such as “the monthly change was,” “rose sharply,” and “remained stable,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including clauses with “while,” “before,” and “and then,” but control is inconsistent. Errors in sentence structure and verb forms appear in examples such as “demostrates that how much monthly price had changed” and “There was sharp rose”; these make some statements difficult to process. Tense and agreement also need attention: “each metal’s price fall” should use a past-tense verb, and “the price of copper and zinc was” does not agree with the plural subject. Several sentences lack necessary articles or have faulty punctuation, such as “at the end of year” and “In contrast to nickle,it followed…”. Aim for accurate past-tense reporting and build complex sentences only when their clauses are grammatically complete.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.