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 line graph demonstrates the average monthly variations in the prices of the three distinguish metals during a period of 2014. The data is calibrated into percentages.

Overall the prices showed downwards trend where, Nickle showed the most drmatic fall followed by zinc and copper which did not go crazy with prices.

To begin with Zinc, it's price was high around 1% which became even higher accounting for the highest increased around 3% . After that it fell down drastically with around 1% decreased in the price then spiked again after showing stability in prices till the month of october when its prices shooted upto to the max 2%. Meanwhile, Copper showed donward trend accounting for the least price increament. Started with around 2% increase in the prices in the month of january which then fell gradually and stayed with increases in prices then jumped a little with the increase of 1% in june accounting for the max increase to 2%.

Meanwhile, Nickle showed the most dramtic fall compared to other two categories. Strarted with the highest price increase percentage of 6% in january falling straight to the 1% in month of march which then again fell down to -3% accounting for the cheapestin the month of january . Nickle then again striked a little and showed gradual growth reaching to the max percentage of 1% increase till the end of 2014.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the three metals and include an overview that nickel had the sharpest fall, while copper changed less dramatically. However, the overview that prices generally showed a downward trend is too broad: all three series recovered towards the end of the year, and copper’s changes were comparatively modest. Some details are inaccurate or unclear. Zinc rose to about 3% in February, not after starting at around 1% and then rising later; its October change was about -1%, before recovering in November and December. Copper’s maximum was about 2% in January, not June. Nickel’s fall to -3% occurred in June, not January. Selecting the main turning points accurately and comparing the metals more directly would make the report more complete and reliable.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate discussion of zinc, copper and nickel. Sequencing phrases such as “To begin with” and “Meanwhile” help signal movement between points, and the reader can generally follow the intended comparisons. However, the progression within the descriptions is sometimes difficult to track because several months and changes are compressed into long sentences. For example, the zinc account moves from its early rise to a later fall and recovery without clearly anchoring each change to the correct month. “Meanwhile” is also repeated, and the overview does not consistently prepare the reader for the details that follow. Use shorter, clearly ordered sentences and group the metals’ shared mid-year decline and late-year recovery to strengthen the progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You attempt a range of vocabulary for describing movement, including “fell gradually,” “spiked,” “stability,” and “dramatic fall.” This shows awareness of the language needed for a line graph. However, several choices are informal, inaccurate or awkward for an academic report: “did not go crazy with prices,” “shooted,” “striked,” and “cheapest” do not describe percentage changes appropriately. There are also noticeable spelling and word-form errors, including “Nickle,” “dramtic,” “Strarted,” and “increament,” which reduce precision. Prefer consistent, neutral terms such as “rose,” “declined,” “recovered,” and “remained stable,” and check spelling and collocations before submitting. This would make the limited range more accurate and easier to understand.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You use some longer sentence forms to connect changes over time, but control is uneven, and complex sentences are often faulty. For example, “Started with around 2% increase…” is a sentence fragment, while “which then fell gradually and stayed with increases” has an unclear grammatical relationship between its clauses. There are also errors with articles and possessives, as in “the three distinguish metals” and “it's price,” and with verb forms and agreement, including “prices shooted” and “Nickle then again striked.” Punctuation and sentence boundaries also need attention, particularly where several events are joined in one sentence. Practise complete subject–verb sentences and use accurate past-tense forms; clearer sentence construction will help your range communicate the data reliably.

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