Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-25

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 graph illustrates that, average monthly change in prices of metals during 2014.

As an overview, there are changes in prices of copper, zinc and nickle, sometimes its gradually decreasing, another time its gradually increasing and second time it remains constant.

To begin with, the price of nickle is about at six in january, from january to march it gradually decreasing till one. In march and may the price remain constant until april then goes on decreasing to june. Its price suddenly increases from july to june, and now is is constant till september. Moreover in september it decreases and suddenly increases in the period of september to november, after that it remain constant till december for the price of nickle.

On the other hand, the price of zinc at one in january it increases three until febrary furthremore it goes on decreasing until june, now form june there is sudden increase until july and it remain constant to september, then it decreases, there is gradual increase in the priceof zinc till december. As well as the price of copper goes on decreasing from january to may, fro may it remain constant till june and now it suddenly increases from june to july, then its price remains constat to september nowits price gradually decrease and increase till december to one point five.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify all three metals and describe several broad movements, including nickel’s high starting point and sharp fall, and the later recovery in zinc and nickel. However, the overview is vague: “sometimes its gradually decreasing” does not clearly summarise the main pattern or compare the series. Several details are inaccurate or unclear. Nickel falls to about -3% in June, not merely “decreasing to June”; it then rises to about -1% in July, rather than increasing “from july to june.” Copper does not remain constant from May to June, as both months are around -0.5%, and its rise begins after June. Select the most important contrasts and report them accurately, especially the metals’ mid-year declines and late-year recoveries.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has an opening, an attempted overview, and separate descriptions of nickel, zinc, and copper, so the reader can recognise the general subject and follow some of the sequence. However, progression is weakened by long, crowded sentences and repeated linking phrases such as “now,” “then,” and “moreover.” The nickel paragraph is particularly difficult to follow because the time sequence becomes confused in “increases from july to june” and “from september to november.” Some references, including “its” and “it,” are not always clear. Organise the body around clear time periods or compare the metals within each period, and use shorter sentences with accurate month-to-month links.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use a basic set of trend vocabulary, including “decreasing,” “increases,” “constant,” and “suddenly,” which allows the reader to understand the general topic. However, the range is limited and several expressions are repeated or imprecise, such as “goes on decreasing” and “remains constat.” Some word choices make the trend difficult to interpret: “suddenly increases” is used for changes that are not consistently sudden, while “gradually” does not always match the figures. There are also noticeable spelling and spacing errors, including “nickle,” “febrary,” and “priceof.” Build a more precise range for describing rises, falls, fluctuations, and stability, and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to connect ideas in longer sentences, for example with “until,” “then,” and “after that,” but sentence structures are often faulty, and errors can make the timeline hard to understand. Examples include “The graph illustrates that, average monthly change,” “the price remain constant,” and “it remain constant,” where sentence construction and subject–verb agreement need attention. Tense and clause control are also inconsistent in phrases such as “from january to march it gradually decreasing.” Use the past tense consistently for the 2014 data, and practise complete sentences with a clear subject and verb. Shorter, accurately punctuated sentences would help you communicate the comparisons more reliably.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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