Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The line graph illustrates changes of prices for three metals during each month of year 2014.

We can see the changes in price is at highest during january for nickel and copper. Following this month, The price change is reducing for these metals. Following january, zinc showed two percent increased in price changes at febuary and then reducing the change after this month. At june the percentage of price changes are at there lowest point. In july the price changes of each become increased. After which for three months there are no changes. Octuber show a little drop in prices changes of these metals. In november the prices changes again then increased for zinc and nickel. While copper shows no any changes. In the last monthcopper and zinc again increased the changes on there price. Nickel does not show the prices changes during december. it is same as november for nickel.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the three metals and describe several broad movements, including the sharp fall in nickel around June and the recovery in the final months. However, the response does not provide a clear, accurate overview of the main contrasts, and several statements misrepresent the graph. For example, January is not the highest point for copper (nickel is much higher), and the claim that all three metals had no changes for three months is inaccurate: their monthly changes remain positive or negative. The description also says copper shows no change in November, although it is about 0.5%, and says nickel has no price change in December, when it remains around 1%. Select the key highs, lows and overall pattern, then support them with accurate comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response follows the months in chronological order, so the reader can broadly trace the year, and phrases such as “Following this month” and “In the last month” attempt to connect events. However, the account is presented as one paragraph without a clear overview or grouping of related trends, and the repeated month-by-month transitions make the progression mechanical. Some links are also unclear: “After which for three months there are no changes” does not specify which metals or what kind of change is meant. Organise the response into an introduction, an overview of the main pattern, and detail paragraphs comparing the metals or phases. Use references such as “the two metals” only when the intended series is unmistakable.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant basic terms such as “line graph,” “percentage,” “increased,” and “drop,” which allow the reader to recognise that you are describing price movements. However, the vocabulary is repetitive and some word combinations are unnatural or imprecise, including “price changes,” “two percent increased,” and “show a little drop in prices changes.” There are also spelling errors such as “january,” “febuary,” and “Octuber,” which reduce accuracy. Build a more precise set of trend expressions and use them consistently: for example, describe a figure as a “monthly price change” and say that it “rose,” “fell,” or “remained stable.” Check spelling of month names and avoid repeating the same phrase for every series.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a few linked and comparative sentence forms, such as “Following this month” and “While copper shows…,” but most sentences use a narrow, simple pattern, and frequent grammatical errors sometimes make relationships difficult to follow. Examples include “the changes in price is,” where the subject and verb do not agree, and “At june the percentage of price changes are,” which has agreement and article problems. “In the last monthcopper” also needs punctuation and spacing, while “it is same as november” is missing an article. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and subject–verb agreement, and vary sentence structures to compare two metals in one sentence. Careful proofreading for sentence boundaries and articles would improve clarity.

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