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 line graph delineates the monthly changes in cost of copper, nickel and zinc during the 2014. A glance at the graph reveals that cost of nickel was higher at the start of year and then dropped significantly, while the zinc rate was fluctuated over the time period and inclined considerably.

To begin with, the price of nickel was at 6% in January after that plummeted to 1% in March which is remained constant for one month. In addition, the cost of nickel collapsed very badly in June after that the value rose steadily to -1% in July which was remained same for three months before the skyrocketed the cost of nickel it slightly decrease. The cost of nickel reached to 1% in November remained stable for two months.

The market price of zinc was at 1% after that it fluctuated throughtout the year and reached to -1% in October and then the average monthly values upsurged to 2% in December. Likewise, mean monthly cost of zinc the copper prices fluctuated in a single year it was at 2% in January. Due to price fluctuation of copper it reached to 1% in July the value remained stable for three months before the slight increase in value the price slightly dropped and then reached nearly 1.5% in December.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify several important patterns, including nickel’s high starting point and sharp fall, and the metals’ recovery towards the end of the year. However, the overview is incomplete and partly inaccurate: zinc did not rise consistently overall, as it fell from 3% in February to negative figures in June–October before recovering. The account also misreports nickel’s later movement: it rose to about 1% in November and stayed there in December, rather than “slightly decrease” after a surge. Copper receives only a brief, unclear description, and there is no direct comparison of the three metals’ contrasting movements. Select the main turning points accurately and give a clearer overview of the overall patterns.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic paragraph structure, moving from an introduction and overview to separate discussion of nickel and then zinc and copper. This gives the reader some organisation, and time markers such as “In January,” “in June,” and “in December” help locate information. However, progression is weakened by long, overloaded sentences and unclear links between ideas. For example, the nickel sentence beginning “In addition” combines its June fall, July recovery, three-month plateau, and later rise without clear punctuation or a precise sequence. The final paragraph shifts abruptly from zinc to copper. Use one paragraph per metal or group related trends, and make transitions and references clearer rather than relying repeatedly on “after that.”

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonably varied range of vocabulary for describing trends, including “plummeted,” “fluctuated,” “remained stable,” and “upsurged.” These attempts help convey movement and show more than a basic vocabulary range. Some choices, however, are inaccurate or unnatural for a graph description: “cost” and “rate” are used where “price” or “monthly change” would be clearer, while “collapsed very badly” is overly dramatic. “Skyrocketed” also conflicts with the small rise described, and “inclined considerably” does not accurately summarise zinc’s fluctuating pattern. There are spelling and word-form slips such as “throughtout.” Aim for precise, neutral trend language and check that each verb matches the size and direction of the change.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to connect several events in complex sentences, but control is inconsistent, and errors sometimes make the sequence difficult to follow. Examples include “which is remained constant,” “which was remained same,” and “before the skyrocketed the cost,” where verb forms and sentence construction are faulty. There are also article and agreement problems in “during the 2014” and “the zinc rate was fluctuated.” Several sentences run together without adequate punctuation, particularly the account of nickel’s movement after June. Use straightforward past-tense clauses as a reliable base, then add subordinate clauses only when their structure is secure. Check articles, verb forms, and punctuation when describing each change.

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