Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-19

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 compares montly changes in the costs of three different metals during 2014.

Overall, the percentage of prices for all three metals including copper, and zinc fluctuated over the year. In December, zinc recorded the highest figure, whereas nickel had the lowest.

In January, the change in price of nickel stood at 6% , compared with just 2% for copper. The figure declined for copper to approximately -1% in the month of june, eventually strated increasing to 1.5% in december. Similarly, the change in percentage of nickel price decreased to -3% in the month of june, then suddenly started increasing to 1% at the end of the year.

Meanwhile, the change in percentage for zinc price strated at 1% in january, declined to -1% in june, reaching 2% at the end of the year. By comparision, zinc finished at 2% , slightly ahead of copper , whereas nickel ended at 1% increased in price. ok

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the graph’s subject and provide an overview, noting that the figures fluctuate and comparing the metals at year-end. Several key details are also accurate: nickel begins at about 6% and falls to around −3% in June, while zinc rises to about 2% in December. However, the overview is incomplete and partly inaccurate: copper, not zinc, has the highest December figure (about 1.5%), while nickel and copper are both around 1%, so nickel is not the lowest. The account also omits important early movements, such as zinc’s rise to 3% in February, and gives copper’s June value as approximately −1% rather than about −0.5%. Select the main peaks, troughs and shared patterns more carefully, and check comparisons against the graph.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear basic structure: an introduction, an overview and paragraphs describing the metals’ movements. Sequencing is generally easy to follow, with time markers such as “In January,” “in the month of June” and “at the end of the year.” The comparisons introduced by “Similarly” and “By comparison” also help connect information. However, the final paragraph combines zinc’s trend with a comparison of all three metals, and the overview’s year-end comparison is unclear and inaccurate. Some linking is mechanical, and the closing “ok” is inappropriate in a formal report. Grouping the metals’ shared mid-year decline and subsequent recovery, then making a precise year-end comparison, would create a more coherent progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of graph vocabulary, including “fluctuated,” “declined,” “stood at” and “compared with,” so the main trends are usually understandable. However, several noticeable spelling and word-choice errors reduce precision: “montly,” “strated,” and “comparision” should be corrected, and “costs” is less suitable than “prices” for describing the graph. Phrases such as “the change in percentage of nickel price” are awkward and repeated; “the monthly percentage change in nickel prices” is more natural. “The figure” is useful but becomes repetitive. Aim for accurate, concise collocations and vary references to the data, for example “the rate,” “the monthly change” and “the price movement.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple sentences and some more complex forms, including the contrast clause “whereas nickel had the lowest” and the comparison “compared with just 2% for copper.” Most sentences communicate the intended trend, but some grammatical choices and punctuation need closer control. In “the change in price of nickel,” use “the change in the price of nickel”; “nickel ended at 1% increased in price” is not a well-formed construction and should be recast, for example as “nickel ended the year with a 1% increase.” Commas are also misplaced or missing around phrases such as “reaching 2% at the end of the year.” Use a wider range of accurate sentence patterns and proofread articles, clause structure and punctuation.

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