Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-26

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 given picture represents the information about the average changes in price of three different metals named copper, nickel and zinc per month in 2014. There were huge changes during the majority of the months throghout the year.

Firstly, in the first month of the year 2014, the change in the prices of copper, nickel and zinc were increased by the average of 2%, 6% and 1% respectively. In February the price of zinc increased with the change of 2% while, copper and nickel reduced their cost by 1% and 2% simultaneously. The cost of each metal varied between the average of -1% to 2% from March to May, then showed a sharp decrease in June and again increased in July when the average prices of copper, nickel and zinc were 1%, -1% and a little more than -1% which remained the same till September. The Costs were again changed of each price between the average of 1% to 2% in the final month of 2014.

Overall, several ups and downs could be seen in the monthly prices of the given metals.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify all three metals and describe the broad movement from positive changes early in the year to declines around June, followed by some recovery. However, the account is only partially accurate and the main features are not clearly prioritised. For example, February is misreported: copper and nickel fell by about 1% and 2%, but nickel actually fell from 6% to 4%, while copper fell from 2% to 1%; these are monthly changes, not reductions in their costs. The July figures are also inaccurate, and the claim that values remained the same until September overlooks changes in the series. Your overview, “several ups and downs,” is too general to highlight the striking contrast between nickel’s large swings and copper’s relatively modest changes. Select key peaks, troughs and comparisons more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall arrangement: an introduction, a chronological account beginning with January, and a concluding overview. This gives the reader a basic route through the information, and phrases such as “Firstly,” “In February” and “Overall” signal stages. However, most of the data is compressed into one long paragraph, so comparisons between metals and changes over time are difficult to follow. The sequence also becomes unclear in the sentence covering March to September, where several months and figures are combined and “which remained the same” has an uncertain reference. Group the information into clearer stages—for example, early-year movements, the mid-year fall and the late-year recovery—and use explicit comparisons to connect the series.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough topic vocabulary to communicate the general subject, including “average changes,” “sharp decrease” and “ups and downs.” There are also attempts at more descriptive phrasing, such as “varied” and “increased.” However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural for describing a graph. “The price … increased with the change of 2%” and “reduced their cost” confuse a percentage change with the price level, while “the Costs were again changed of each price” is difficult to interpret. “Huge changes” also overstates the relatively small movements in copper. Spelling errors such as “throghout” and inconsistent capitalisation weaken control. Prefer precise terms such as “monthly percentage change,” “rose,” “fell” and “fluctuated,” and check spelling and collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences with time clauses, including “when the average prices … were” and “which remained the same till September.” This shows some range, and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. However, errors in agreement, tense and sentence construction recur. In “the change in the prices … were increased,” the subject and verb do not agree, and the passive form is unnecessary; “the percentage change … was” would be clearer. “The cost of each metal varied … then showed” also shifts awkwardly between the cost and the change. The long sentence beginning “The cost of each metal varied” joins several stages without clear punctuation, and the final clause has an unclear antecedent. Use shorter, controlled sentences and check subject–verb agreement and consistent references.

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