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 graph compares the percentages of three metal in 2014. The three metal includes are zinc, copper and nickel. The nickel showed the highest percentage which is 6% in the month of January. Moreover, zinc has been observed the highest percentage of three in the month of February. Futhermore, copper experienced the highest percentage in the month of December.

Looking into the details, the nickel showed a decline from 6% to 1% in the month of March, and then fell off steadily to the month of June. After this, nickel become stable for a period of time before it increased. On the other hand, zinc also showed the same trends like nickel, and then increased the percentages by december. While copper showed the different trends with a minor increase and decrease. It went stable for a small period and then increased to 2% by december.

Overall, the graph depicts the higher values for all the three metals; at the starting of year that goes on decreasing by the end of year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the three metals and report several relevant features, including nickel’s January peak and the general decline around the middle of the year. However, the account only partly captures the main patterns, and some comparisons are inaccurate or unclear. Zinc, not copper, reaches the highest value among the metals in December (about 2%, compared with copper at roughly 1.5%). The overview that all metals start high and decrease by year-end is also misleading: zinc and nickel rise again in November and December, while copper ends above its mid-year level. Develop the overview around the sharp mid-year falls and late-year recovery, and support it with accurate comparisons across the series.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph describing details, and a concluding overview. Phrases such as “Looking into the details” and “On the other hand” help signal movement between points. However, the progression is not consistently clear because the overview is placed at the end and repeats a broad claim that does not match the data. The discussion also shifts between metals without a clear organising principle, and “zinc also showed the same trends like nickel” leaves the comparison vague. Grouping the shared mid-year declines together, then contrasting the metals’ late-year movements, would make the information easier to follow. Use linking expressions selectively and make each reference explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “decline,” “increased,” “stable,” and “minor increase and decrease,” so the reader can understand the general subject. However, the range is limited and several choices are imprecise or unnatural for describing a line graph. “The highest percentage” is repeated, although the graph shows monthly percentage changes rather than overall metal prices, and “fell off steadily” does not accurately describe nickel’s movement after March. There are also noticeable word-form and spelling problems, such as “three metal,” “Futhermore,” and “increased the percentages.” Aim for precise terms such as “monthly change,” “fluctuated,” “recovered,” and “remained unchanged,” and check spelling and collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple sentences and longer structures, including “After this, nickel become stable for a period of time before it increased.” The main message is generally understandable, but errors in agreement, verb forms, articles, and sentence construction recur. For example, “The three metal includes” has a plural agreement problem, while “nickel become stable” needs a past-tense verb. The opening phrase “While copper showed…” is a dependent clause presented as a complete sentence, and “the higher values for all the three metals; at the starting of year” is awkwardly joined and difficult to parse. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and complete sentence structures, while retaining some varied sentence forms.

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