Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-23

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 the average monthly percentage changes in the price of copper,nickel and zinc throughout 2014.

Overall, all the three metals experinced fluctuation in this prices during the year.Nickel showed the most significant changes,while copper remaind relatively stable.All three metals experienced negative changes around the middle of the year before recovering towards December.

At the beginning of the year, nickel recorded the highest monthly price change, at approximately 6%, followed by zine at 1%and copper at 2%.Nickel's figure then fell sharply to around 4%in Feburuary and 1% in March.Meanwhile,zinc peaked at about 3%in Febuary befote declining gradually.capper also decresed, reaching approximately 0.5%in March and Apri

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the graph and give a useful overview: nickel fluctuates most, copper is relatively stable, and the metals generally fall around mid-year before recovering. You also report several early-year figures accurately, including nickel at about 6% in January and zinc reaching 3% in February. However, the response is incomplete: it stops while describing April and does not report the later months, so the key mid-year lows and recovery towards December are not supported with details. The task is only partially addressed, and the main trends are under-developed. The response also contains 107 words, below the required 150. To improve, complete the account with the June–December movements and compare the metals’ lowest points and year-end figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction to an overview and then to specific figures. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “At the beginning of the year,” and “Meanwhile” help signal the stages of the description. This gives the writing a coherent basic arrangement. However, the final paragraph ends abruptly at “April,” leaving the progression unfinished and preventing a clear account of the later months. Some transitions also connect details without fully developing the comparison between metals. Use separate, complete paragraphs for the overview, early-year changes, and mid-to-late-year trends, and use comparison links such as “whereas” or “by contrast” to make relationships clearer.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “monthly percentage changes,” “recorded,” “peaked,” “declining,” “relatively stable,” and “recovering.” These choices communicate the general subject and some movement in the data. However, spelling errors are noticeable, for example “experinced,” “zine,” “Feburuary,” “befote,” and “capper,” and they reduce the accuracy and polish of the report. There are also awkward phrases such as “changes in this prices” and “all the three metals.” Aim for accurate spelling and more natural collocations, and vary the language used to describe rises, falls, and comparisons. Proofreading carefully would help ensure that otherwise understandable vocabulary is not obscured by errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use a mixture of simple and more developed sentence forms, including the overview sentence beginning “Although” is not present, but you do use a subordinate clause in “before recovering towards December.” The opening sentence and several statements about individual figures are structurally clear. However, some grammatical errors remain, such as “all the three metals” and “fluctuation in this prices”; the latter also shows unclear number agreement and reference. Missing spaces after punctuation, as in “year.Nickel” and “1%and,” make sentence boundaries harder to read. The response ends with an incomplete sentence, “copper also decreased, reaching approximately 0.5% in March and April,” which needs a full stop and completion of the report. Check articles, plurals, punctuation, and sentence completion.

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.