Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-21

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 tracks the data on the average monthly variations in cost of copper, nickel and zinc over a one year period.

Overall, it is evident that the graph fluctaued during the year. The three metals witnessed downward trend with the assumption of zinc which slighly rised at the end of the period.

In January, nickel was hitting a peak with 6% increase in amount this reflect the major price change in the entire period. After that, it plummed drastically to 1% increase in march, this figure then declined to -3% in june which marks the most negative change of the survey. Nickel reached 1% in december, but still remains at the bottom.

However, copper showed ups and down during the period from 2% in january to considerably below 0% in june. Changes in copper price soared from july to december with slight dip in october. Zinc follows this trend as well, which surged from 1% to 3% in feburary. After this, it decreased to its initial level before rising back to 2% in december, marking the most significant changes among the other metals.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main overall movement and include relevant figures, especially nickel’s January peak of 6% and June low of about -3%, as well as zinc’s rise to 2% in December. However, the overview is not fully accurate: all three metals did not show a general downward trend, since copper and zinc recovered in the second half, and zinc did not rise only at the end. Some comparisons are also unclear or inaccurate. For example, nickel’s December figure was level with November, while copper rose to about 1.5%; calling nickel “at the bottom” does not reflect the final ranking. Develop the overview around the sharp mid-year falls and subsequent recovery, and report the series’ key differences more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction and overview to details about nickel and then copper and zinc. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression is uneven: the first detail paragraph focuses on nickel, while the final paragraph combines copper and zinc without clearly separating their movements. Some linking is also awkward or unclear, such as “After this” and “Zinc follows this trend as well,” because the relationship between the trends is not fully explained. Use one paragraph for the overview and organise the details by clear stages or by metal, with comparisons that explicitly show how the lines differ.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of vocabulary for describing movement, including “plummeted,” “surged,” “declined,” and “slight dip.” These choices help convey changes in the lines, and the meaning is generally understandable. However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or informal for an academic graph report: “hitting a peak,” “variations in cost,” and “the most significant changes” do not describe the data precisely. There are also spelling errors, including “fluctaued,” “slighly,” “plummed,” and “feburary.” Aim for precise terms such as “percentage change in price,” “reached a peak,” and “the largest fluctuation,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentences, including clauses linked with “which” and “after,” and most of the intended meaning can be followed. However, errors in sentence construction and verb forms recur. For example, “In January, nickel was hitting a peak with 6% increase in amount this reflect…” joins clauses without suitable punctuation and shifts awkwardly between past and present. “Nickel reached 1% in December, but still remains at the bottom” also mixes past and present forms. Use consistent past tense for the 2014 data, and separate complete clauses with a full stop or an appropriate conjunction. Check articles and sentence boundaries when adding figures.

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