Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-27

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 line graph illustrates the average monthly change in the prices of three metals namely, Copper, Nickel, Zinc during 2014

Overall, Spending on metals have certain variation over the period. In the month of January, Nickel recorded highest expenditure among other metals. While in june nickel had lowest expenditure the most dramatic growth by the end of timeframe.

In january,To begin with Nickel stood at the highest change in price with 6 percent, Copper was the second most highest change in price with 2 percent, Zinc was the lowest change in price among the metals with 1 percent, Furthermore in the month of july all metals had certain variation , Nickel had steadily decrease and lowest among the other metal with -3 percent. Albeit , Copper stood at highest change in price and zinc was second highest among the othere metals

From july to september, all the metals were constant increasing and then had slighty decrease in all three metals. In the final analysis, all three metals had a growth, Nickel was in first position couped with copper was in second position Furthermore nickel was lowest change in price

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the three metals and include some relevant figures, such as nickel’s January rise of 6% and copper’s 2%. However, the response only partially reports the graph’s main features, which is why the account remains limited and under-developed. The overview is inaccurate: nickel’s lowest point was in June at about -3%, not a low in January, and it did not show “the most dramatic growth” by year-end; it recovered to around 1%. The claim that all metals increased from July to September is also incorrect: copper stayed near 1%, while nickel and zinc remained negative. Include a clear overview of the broad pattern—early highs, a mid-year fall, and recovery late in the year—and compare the metals accurately. (The required length was met.)

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is some organisation: the response begins with an introduction, then gives an overview and moves into details about January, the middle months and the end of the year. However, progression is difficult to follow because the time sequence is not consistently handled. For example, “In january” is followed by a sudden reference to July, and the final paragraph begins “From july to september” before jumping to the year-end. Linking expressions such as “Furthermore,” “Albeit,” and “In the final analysis” are repeated or do not clearly show the relationship between ideas. Paragraphing is present, but the information would be clearer if each paragraph covered a defined period and comparisons were grouped together. Use straightforward transitions such as “By June,” “From July to October,” and “In November and December.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-related vocabulary, including “change in price,” “highest,” “lowest,” and “growth,” so the reader can recognise that the response concerns monthly price movements. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for a graph description. “Expenditure” refers to money spent, not a percentage change in metal prices, and “all the metals were constant increasing” does not clearly describe the data. Phrases such as “first position” and “second most highest” are also imprecise or redundant. Aim for accurate trend language and vary it: for example, describe prices as rising, falling, remaining stable, reaching a low, or recovering. Check spelling and word forms, including “slightly” and “coupled.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple statements and longer sentences, but the range is limited and complex sentences are often difficult to control. Errors in agreement and verb forms appear in “Spending on metals have certain variation” and “all the metals were constant increasing.” Sentence boundaries and punctuation are also unreliable: the opening sentence lacks a full stop, and “In january,To begin with” has incorrect spacing and capitalisation. Several clauses are joined with commas, as in the January list of figures, making the relationships between points unclear. Practise writing complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and use full stops or semicolons to separate comparisons. For example: “Nickel fell to -3% in June, while copper and zinc recorded smaller declines.”

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

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