Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The line graph illustrates average monthly change in prices of three metals copper, nickel and zinc over the year 2014.

Over all, all three metals experienced considerable volatility. with alternating positive and negative monthly price fluctuations. While nickel saw the most dramatic peaks and troughs. Furthermore zinc recorded the most stable price shifts overall.

At the begining of the year nickel experienced the highest price surge at 6% in january. Though this figure fell sharply to 4% in februry, saw a continues steady decsent to 1% in March. Zinc followed a similar downward trend after picking at 3% in february, gradually decrease to 1% in march, Cpper sarted at modest to 2% in january reached at about 0,5% in april before receading

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the graph’s subject and give a broad overview, noting nickel’s dramatic fluctuations and zinc’s relative stability. You also report several relevant early-year figures, including nickel at 6% in January and zinc at 3% in February. However, the response covers only part of the year and ends mid-description, so the major later movements—especially the metals’ declines around June and their recovery near the end—are missing. The claim that all three had alternating positive and negative changes is also too broad: copper’s changes are mostly positive or close to zero. The response is 122 words, below the required 150. To address the task more fully, include the full-year pattern and compare the metals’ lowest and final values in a complete summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and a paragraph describing early figures. Linking expressions such as “While” and “Furthermore” show an attempt to connect ideas. However, the progression is incomplete because the account stops during the copper description, leaving the year’s later stages unreported. Some connections are awkward or unclear, as in “Though this figure fell sharply to 4% in February, saw…”; the reader has to infer what happened next. The overview also combines several claims without developing them into a clear comparison. Organise the body chronologically or by contrasting metals, and use complete sentences with clear links between each trend.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “volatility,” “price surge,” “downward trend,” and “peaks and troughs,” which helps describe changes in a line graph. However, spelling errors are frequent and sometimes make the text harder to read, for example “begining,” “februry,” “decsent,” and “Cpper.” There are also inaccurate or awkward word combinations, such as “picking at 3%” and “reached at about 0.5%.” The range is limited because the response relies mainly on basic descriptions of rises and falls and does not cover enough data to demonstrate more flexible vocabulary. Proofread carefully and choose precise verbs such as “peaked,” “declined,” and “recovered” to describe the full set of trends.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some complex sentence forms, including “While nickel saw the most dramatic peaks and troughs,” but control is inconsistent. Several sentences contain missing or misplaced grammatical elements. For example, “Though this figure fell sharply to 4% in February, saw a continues steady…” lacks a clear subject for the second verb, while “Zinc followed a similar downward trend … gradually decrease” shifts into an incorrect verb form. The overview also has a sentence fragment after “volatility.” Punctuation around sentence boundaries is unreliable, and the final sentence is unfinished. These errors sometimes make relationships between events difficult to follow. Practise writing complete sentences with a clear subject and consistent past-tense verbs before adding subordinate clauses.

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