Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-24

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 graph shows us that how much monthly average change occur in the prices of three metals in period of 2014 by comparing change in prices with previous month.

The graph demonstrates that the highest prices drop of metal was nickel and it was continuously drop from 6 percent to -3 percent until june and after that its percentage of prices remained ups and downs and finished at 1 percent in the month of December.

The percentage of prices of copper was the lowest drop as compared to others two metals. Firstly, its percentage decreases from 2 to below 0 in the month of june but after that its percentage increases for one month then remained constant for next three months and then again little bit drop and finally it lies between 1 and 2 until December.

The percentage of prices of zinc remained ups and downs. It started from 1 percent in January and remained 2 percent at the end of December.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main contrast that nickel experienced the sharpest fall, reaching a low in June, while copper changed less dramatically. You also give starting and ending figures for zinc. However, the overview is not sufficiently clear or complete: the response does not summarise the broad pattern that all three metals fell around mid-year and recovered towards the end. Some details are inaccurate or vague. Nickel did not fall continuously until June, since it rose from 1% in March to about 1% in April before dropping; copper’s final value was about 1.5%, not simply between 1 and 2%; and zinc’s fluctuations are not explained beyond its endpoints. Select the key turning points and compare the metals more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a generally understandable sequence: it introduces the graph, then discusses nickel, copper and zinc in separate paragraphs. This gives the reader a basic route through the information, and phrases such as “after that” and “finally” help signal changes over time. However, the organisation is mostly a series of metal-by-metal descriptions rather than a clear overview followed by well-grouped details. The repeated wording “the percentage of prices” and “remained ups and downs” also makes connections feel mechanical, while “after that” does not always identify a precise period. Begin with a concise overview of the shared mid-year decline and late recovery, then group comparisons or describe each series with clear time references.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “prices,” “percentage,” “decreases,” “increases,” and “remained constant,” so the reader can follow the general subject. There is also some attempt to describe movement rather than merely list figures. However, the range is limited and several word combinations are unnatural or imprecise, such as “highest prices drop,” “lowest drop,” “remained ups and downs,” and “little bit drop.” Repeating “percentage of prices” also restricts precision. Use standard graph language such as “the steepest decline,” “fluctuated,” “rose,” and “recovered,” and distinguish a price change from the price itself. More accurate collocations would make the comparisons clearer and more concise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt longer sentences with time clauses, for example, “Firstly, its percentage decreases … but after that …,” and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. However, some sentence structures and verb forms are faulty, including “shows us that how much monthly average change occur” and “it was continuously drop.” The response also shifts between past and present forms (“decreases,” “remained,” “lies”), although the graph reports data from 2014 and should generally be described in the past. Articles and comparison patterns need attention in phrases such as “others two metals.” Practise forming clear clauses—for example, “The graph shows the monthly percentage change”—and maintain consistent past-tense verbs when describing the year.

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.