Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · 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 4.0)

The line graph illustrates the monthly changes of the prices of three metals namely; copper, nickel and zinc during 2014.

Overall, all three metal are increasing sidely during all the period. Follin by, the nickel was rose highest, th copper metal was flucatated all the year and the zing also incresed at the end of the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The opening identifies the chart’s subject, and the overview attempts to compare the three metals. However, the response reports almost none of the chart’s key information and includes an inaccurate generalisation: prices did not rise throughout the year, as all three metals recorded negative monthly changes around June and copper was mostly stable or fell slightly. Nickel began highest, at about 6%, then dropped sharply to around −3% in June; copper and zinc also had distinct patterns that are not described. The response is also substantially below the required 150 words, leaving no developed account of the main features or supporting comparisons. To improve, include a clear overview and describe the major rises, falls, turning points and approximate figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic, recognisable structure: an introductory sentence is followed by an overview, and “Overall” signals the shift to the summary. This gives the reader a simple progression. However, the response ends before it develops any organised account of the data, so there is no grouping of details by metal or period and few opportunities to show how comparisons connect. The phrase “Follin by” does not function clearly as a linking expression, and the final sentence strings several claims together without clear relationships. Build a fuller response with an introduction, an overview, and one or two detail paragraphs, using accurate links such as “whereas,” “by contrast,” and “from June onwards” to guide comparisons.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response uses a small set of relevant terms, including “line graph,” “monthly changes,” “prices,” and the names of the metals, so the topic is identifiable. It also attempts trend vocabulary such as “increasing” and “fluctuated.” However, the range is very limited, and several misspellings or inaccurate forms—“sidely,” “Follin,” “flucatated,” and “zing”—make the description difficult to interpret and reduce precision. “Increasing” is also an unsuitable summary of the overall data, since the lines include substantial falls. Use accurate, varied language for movement, such as “rose,” “declined,” “recovered,” and “remained relatively stable,” and check spelling and word forms carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

There is a basic attempt to form an introduction and an overview, with a simple present-tense opening and a past-tense description. However, grammatical control is weak in the second sentence: “all three metal are” has an agreement and plural error, while “the nickel was rose highest” combines incompatible verb forms. The sentence beginning “Follin by” also lacks a clear grammatical connection to the following clause, and the semicolon after “namely” is not appropriate punctuation. Most structures are simple, with little evidence of accurate complex sentence control. Practise forming clear past-tense comparisons, for example, “Nickel rose the most, whereas copper fluctuated,” and check subject–verb agreement, articles, and punctuation.

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