Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · 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 4.5)

The line graph illustrate the monthly changing of prices in copper ,nickel and zinc by 2014.

Overall, Nickel saw initial growth before experiencing a steady decline, while with both zinc and cooper experienced consistent upward trajectories throughout the period.

In January the prices of nickel peaking at 6% and exhibiting the most dramatic rise before a major shift accure in one month, by June start to increase steadly

A similar proprotion with copper and zinc roughly about 1% and 2% ,during february the peices showed slight downward drift

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

The response identifies the three metals and attempts an overview, noting nickel’s high starting point and a later decline. However, the overview is inaccurate: copper and zinc did not rise consistently, as both fell below zero around May–October, and nickel began recovering in November. The account also misstates the sequence: nickel peaked in January, then fell, rather than showing a “dramatic rise”; its recovery began in November, not June. Very few monthly comparisons or later-year details are reported, so the main features are not adequately selected or summarised. The response is also substantially below the required 150 words, leaving the task only minimally covered. Include a clear overview and support it with accurate comparisons across the year.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a basic attempt to organise the response, with an opening sentence, an overview, and a further paragraph beginning with January. This gives the reader some sense of the intended structure. However, the progression is difficult to follow because the final paragraph combines disconnected details and ends abruptly, without covering the rest of the year. Linking is limited: “Overall” and “A similar proportion” are used, but the latter does not clearly connect to the preceding point. The overview also conflicts with the data, which weakens the logical flow. Use separate paragraphs for the overview and key trends, then group related metals or periods and connect each comparison explicitly.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response attempts some task-relevant vocabulary, including “monthly,” “steady decline,” “trajectories,” and “downward drift.” These choices show an effort to describe trends rather than simply list figures. However, spelling and word-choice errors are frequent enough to distract, including “cooper,” “proprotion,” “peices,” and “accure.” Some expressions are also imprecise or unnatural: “monthly changing of prices” and “initial growth” do not accurately describe the graph’s month-to-month percentage changes. Build a reliable set of trend phrases such as “rose to,” “fell below zero,” and “recovered,” and check spelling and collocations carefully. More precise vocabulary would make the comparisons clearer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts both simple and more extended sentence forms, including a contrast in the overview and a sentence beginning “In January.” However, grammatical control is inconsistent, and several sentences are incomplete or difficult to parse. For example, “while with both zinc and cooper experienced…” has an incorrect clause structure, while “In January the prices of nickel peaking at 6%” lacks a finite verb. The final sentence fragment beginning “A similar proportion…” also has no clear main clause. There are problems with agreement and verb forms, as in “The line graph illustrate” and “by June start to increase.” Use complete subject–verb clauses, maintain consistent past tense, and punctuate longer sentences so each comparison is grammatically clear.

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