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 charts illustrates average monthly changes in the cost of three metals in 2014. Measured inn percentages.

In general, the proportion of nickel was the highest percentage price changes in the begining of period, whereas, zinc had the lowest percentages price changes in January. In contrast, nickel ended up with the lowest percentages price changes at December, while, zinc had the the highest proportion of percentage changes at the end of period.

Looking at the details, copper started with 2% of price changes in January. This figure grew slightly at the middle of period. However, the price changes percentages were remained same in January and December for copper. In additon, nickel price accounted at 6% in January. This figure dropped significantly to -3% in June, after that, this figure started grew slowly to -1% in September. Furthermore, figure reached 1% price changes in December.

Remaining to the zinc, this figure situated at 1% in starting period. However, this figure faced an upwards trend and an downward trend, after that, reached peak of price changes at 2% in end of the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main contrast between nickel’s high starting point and zinc’s stronger finish, and you include several relevant figures, such as nickel falling from 6% to -3% in June and zinc ending at 2%. However, some key details are inaccurate or unclear. Copper did not grow slightly in the middle: it fell from 0.5% to -0.5% in May and June, then recovered to around 1%. The claim that copper’s January and December figures were the same is also incorrect (2% versus about 1.5%). Your overview would be stronger if it captured the broad mid-year declines and late-year recovery across the metals, rather than focusing mainly on the highest and lowest endpoints. Some trends, especially zinc’s, are only briefly described.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and separate detail paragraphs for copper and nickel, followed by zinc. This makes the main comparisons reasonably easy to follow. You also use linking expressions such as “In contrast,” “However,” and “Furthermore” to signal relationships. At times, though, cohesion is mechanical or the reference is unclear. “This figure” is repeated several times, and in the zinc paragraph it is not always clear which movement the phrase refers to. The overview’s “whereas” and “while” comparisons are also awkwardly punctuated. To improve progression, group the metals by shared trends—for example, their mid-year falls and late-year recoveries—and use more precise references to the relevant metal or month.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a range of task-related vocabulary, including “price changes,” “dropped significantly,” “upwards trend,” and “peak,” so the reader can generally understand the data description. However, several word choices and collocations are unnatural or imprecise, such as “the proportion of nickel,” “percentages price changes,” and “accounted at 6%.” Repetition of “figure” and “price changes” also limits flexibility. There are spelling errors in “begining” and “additon,” and “inn” is an inaccurate spelling. Aim for standard graph language such as “the percentage change in nickel prices,” “stood at,” and “rose/fell,” while checking spelling and avoiding unnecessary repetition. These issues reduce precision but do not prevent the main message from being understood.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including contrast clauses beginning with “whereas” and “while,” and a sequence describing nickel’s fall and recovery. However, grammatical errors occur in several sentence patterns. The opening should be “The line chart illustrates,” not “The line charts illustrates,” and “Measured inn percentages” is a fragment rather than a complete sentence. Other examples include “the price changes percentages were remained same” and “this figure started grew,” where verb forms and sentence construction are faulty. Articles and prepositions are also sometimes missing or misplaced, as in “at middle of period” and “reached peak.” These errors occasionally make the description harder to process. Practise accurate clause construction and past-tense forms while retaining your attempts at varied sentences.

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