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 graph demonstrates the average changes in the price of of three metals per month during the year 2014.The y axis shows the percentage of changes in price and the x axis defines the months from januaury to december.

Starting from nickel in januaury 2014 copper was holding the highest percentage of 6% but it plunged and reached 1%in march ,afterward it was steady till may and again plunged and reached negative 3% in june than it had a graduall increase and kept steady till negative 1% till september afterwards, it was slightly decreased to negative 2% and then increased and ended up at positive 1% in december.

Secoundly zinc was at 1% at start than increased slightly in feburary but afterwards it decreased gradually till june and reached negative 1%.Therefore it was steady till october and increased and reached 2% in december.

Lastly copper was holding its position at 2% but decreased gradually till june at a percentage of negative one,slightly increased and was steady at 1% till october afterwards, it increaesd and eneded up at estimated 2% in december.

In conclusion all three metals incraesed and decreased gradually but thecniclr was at the besdt place.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify all three metals and describe several broad movements, including nickel’s sharp fall and zinc’s recovery late in the year. However, the account contains important factual errors that make the main features unclear. The opening says nickel was “holding the highest percentage of 6%” but calls it copper, and copper is described as falling to negative 1% in June, whereas it was about negative 0.5%. Copper ends at roughly 1.5%, not 2%. The overview that all metals “increased and decreased gradually” is too general and does not highlight the key contrast: nickel fluctuated most, while copper changed less. Select and report the main trends accurately, with a clear overview and relevant comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic sequence: an introduction, separate paragraphs for nickel, zinc and copper, and a conclusion. This gives the reader some organisation, and transitions such as “Secondly” and “Lastly” signal the order of discussion. However, the progression is weakened by unclear references and mechanical linking. For example, “Starting from nickel … copper was holding” makes it uncertain which metal is being described, while “Therefore it was steady” does not clearly identify zinc. The final sentence repeats a broad summary rather than drawing together the metals’ contrasting patterns. Use one paragraph for an overview, then group related trends, and repeat the metal name when a pronoun could be ambiguous.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant trend vocabulary, including “plunged,” “steady,” “gradually” and “increased,” so the reader can generally follow the intended movements. However, the range is limited and several choices or forms are inaccurate, which sometimes makes the description difficult to interpret. “Holding its position” is awkward for a price change, and “at the best place” does not communicate a meaningful comparison. There are also conspicuous spelling errors, such as “januaury,” “Secoundly,” “increaesd” and “thecniclr.” Build a more precise set of chart verbs and nouns, and check spelling carefully; for example, describe a figure as “stood at” a percentage and a movement as a “rise” or “decline.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt longer sentences with time clauses and sequencing, such as “afterwards it was steady till October and increased,” but control is inconsistent. Several sentences run together without appropriate full stops, and commas are missing or misplaced, as in the long nickel description. There are also errors in sentence construction and forms: “the x axis defines the months” is an awkwardly formed statement, and “it was slightly decreased” uses an incorrect passive construction for the intended movement. The opening also has a repeated “of.” These problems sometimes make relationships between events hard to follow. Practise separating each metal’s trend into shorter, complete sentences, then check verb forms, articles and punctuation.

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.