Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The given line graph illustrate the information of median monthly changes in the cost of three types of metals named;copper,nickel and zinc through out the year 2014.

To illabrorate,price for the nickel have dropped singnificantly. In january it is the highest of all three metals at 6% which simenteously fell over the month till june which is -3%,it was rose steadily in the month of july till september by 2% and after decresing slightly in october it rose by 3% and maintain relatively stable at 1% in the

month of november and december.

Taking about Copper and zinc throughout the year 2014 it fluctuated every month by 1 or 2%. In january zinc have started with 1 % of the cost which rose by 2% and had 3% of the cost in february,following fluctuation it was steady in the month of july,august and septemberand agian rise up at 2% in december.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the three metals and report some relevant figures, including nickel’s January peak of 6% and its fall to -3% in June, as well as zinc’s rise from 1% in January to 3% in February. However, the account is only partial and lacks a clear overview of the main pattern across the year. Several details are inaccurate: nickel did not rise by 2% from July to September; it remained around -1% in July, August and September. Its October value was -2%, followed by 1% in November and December, not a 3% rise. Copper is barely described, and the claim that both copper and zinc fluctuated by 1 or 2% each month is too general. Select the key contrasts and summarise them accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic two-paragraph structure, moving from nickel to copper and zinc, and phrases such as “Taking about Copper and zinc” signal a change in focus. This gives the reader some organisation, but the progression is not consistently clear: the nickel paragraph moves from its early decline to later months without clearly distinguishing the actual stages, and the final paragraph gives zinc details while leaving copper largely unreported. Linking expressions such as “following fluctuation” do not explain which changes are being connected. A clearer overview followed by separate, logically ordered comparisons would improve cohesion. Use accurate time markers and refer explicitly to each metal so that comparisons are easy to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “fluctuated,” “steadily,” and “relatively stable,” and terms such as “cost” and “price” show an attempt to describe the graph. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, which sometimes makes the meaning difficult to follow. For example, “median monthly changes” does not describe the graph’s average monthly percentage changes, while “the price for the nickel have dropped” and “rose by 3%” are imprecise descriptions of the data. Spelling errors such as “singnificantly,” “simenteously,” and “decresing” are also noticeable. Aim for precise graph language, such as “monthly percentage change,” “fell to,” and “remained stable.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, including a sequence describing nickel’s changes over several months. However, the longer structures are often difficult to control, and errors in agreement, tense, articles and punctuation occur frequently. Examples include “the line graph illustrate,” “the nickel have dropped,” and “it was rose steadily”; these should use consistent subject–verb agreement and appropriate past-tense forms. The opening phrase “In january it is the highest” also shifts into the present tense when describing past data. Commas and spacing are often missing, particularly in the long nickel sentence, which makes it harder to read. Build accuracy with shorter sentences first, then combine them using correctly formed clauses.

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