Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-20

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 4.5)

the lines graph illustrate data about the average

monthly change in the prices of three metal which are copper, nickel and zinc compared with previous moth in 2014 .

Overall, the figure provides that nickel was the highest proportion change in prices over the the couple months : january fibrary and march before he becomes the lowest over the rest of months whereras. a fluctuate in percentage of prices changes in both copper amd zinc .

the figure shows a significant decrease in nickel iver months before reach the lowest piont in june month however in shows a slightly increase over the rest of month

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify the three metals and give a broad overview that nickel starts with the strongest changes and later falls, while copper and zinc fluctuate. However, the response reports very few of the graph’s main features and does not adequately compare the metals across the year. For example, nickel reaches its lowest point in June, but the account does not mention its recovery in November and December; nor does it describe zinc’s rise at the start and end of the year or copper’s relatively modest movement. The phrase “over the rest of months” also makes the trend unclear. The response is 96 words, below the required 150, which limits the detail available. Add accurate key figures and a fuller overview of the contrasting trends.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: an opening identifies the graph, an overview follows, and a final sentence describes nickel. This gives the reader some sense of the intended structure. However, the progression is limited because the response ends after discussing only one metal in detail, with no clear grouping of the remaining information. Linking is also weak: the overview’s “whereas” is left without a clear contrast, and the colon after “couple months” does not lead into a well-formed list. Use separate, purposeful paragraphs for the overview and the main comparisons, and connect related trends with clear references such as “by contrast” or “while.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “average monthly change,” “prices,” “percentage,” “decrease,” and “lowest point,” so the topic is generally recognisable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or spelling errors make parts difficult to understand, such as “lines graph,” “previous moth,” “fibrary,” and “iver.” Some expressions are also unnatural, including “the highest proportion change” and “a fluctuate in percentage.” Aim for precise graph language and accurate collocations: describe a figure as a “percentage change,” and say that a value “fluctuated” or “fell.” Proofreading spelling and choosing standard trend vocabulary would make your meaning clearer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts both a longer overview sentence and a sentence describing a trend, but grammatical control is inconsistent and the range of sentence structures is narrow. Errors include “three metal,” where the plural is needed, and “nickel was the highest proportion change,” which lacks a clear grammatical relationship between the subject and description. The clause “before he becomes the lowest” also has an unclear pronoun and an unsuitable verb form; the graph’s subject should be referred to as “it” or “the figure.” In “however in shows,” the sentence structure and punctuation are faulty. Practise forming complete sentences with clear subjects and verbs, and check articles, plurals, tense consistency, and punctuation.

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