Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The change in price-month graph provided here tells us how much copper, nickel and zinc price varied in each month of 2014. To start with, these three are the most important elements used by humans in their daily life. They are being used in the food and manufacturing industries. Their price depends heavily on their usage, the increase in usage results in higher prices. Lets have a quick look on the price graph.

The price of copper varied in each month showing a rising trend un january and december. Its price remained constant in july, august and september with a mild decline in following october and november. The price was at the lowest in may and june. Feburary and march and april also showed a almost contant relation in price.

Regarding Nickel, the price was at its peak in january following a decline with each successive month until june. The price was reported at its lowest in june then it rose and remained constant in the next three month of july, august and september. A decrease in price was noted again in october and then it again rose up in november and december.

The price of zinc showed a rise in feburary than its predecessor month. After feburary, there was a continuous decline until june just like we noted for Nickel. In the months followed there was a rise again, peaked in november and december.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the three metals and describe several broad movements, including nickel’s January peak and June low, and the general decline in all three metals around the middle of the year. However, the response only partially selects and reports the main features. It lacks a clear overview comparing the metals’ overall patterns, and the opening comments about their importance and use in industry are not shown by the graph. Some details are inaccurate: copper did not rise in January and December, but recorded positive changes in both months; zinc did not peak in both November and December, as its highest change was in December. To strengthen the report, remove unsupported background and give a concise overview of the key contrasts, supported by accurate comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction followed by separate paragraphs on copper, nickel and zinc. This makes the metals easy to locate, and phrases such as “Regarding Nickel” signal a change of focus. However, the opening includes unrelated background, and the report does not progress from an overall summary to the most important comparisons. Some linking is repetitive or awkward, particularly the repeated use of “then” and “again” in the nickel paragraph. The final zinc paragraph also ends without drawing together the metals’ shared mid-year fall or contrasting their later movements. Organise the response around an overview and grouped comparisons, using links that clarify relationships between trends.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of trend vocabulary, including “decline,” “remained constant,” “peak,” and “continuous decline,” which helps communicate the graph’s movements. However, several expressions are imprecise or unnatural for describing percentage changes: “change in price-month graph,” “rising trend un January,” and “almost contant relation in price.” Spelling errors such as “Feburary” and “contant” also reduce accuracy. The introductory phrases about metals being “the most important elements” and their “usage” are not useful for this graph and make the vocabulary less focused. Aim for precise collocations such as “monthly price change,” “rose by,” and “fell to,” and check spelling before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentences, including clauses with “following a decline” and “until June,” and the main trends are generally understandable. However, errors in sentence construction and grammatical forms recur. For example, “The price of copper varied in each month showing a rising trend un January and december” has an unclear modifier and inconsistent capitalisation, while “The price was reported at its lowest in june then it rose” needs clearer punctuation between clauses. In “the next three month,” the plural form is missing, and “a almost” has an incorrect article. Use shorter, well-punctuated sentences when describing each trend, and check articles, plurals, capitalisation and clause boundaries.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.