Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-28

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 diagram illustrates change in price of 3 different minireals coppor, nickel and zinc throughout the year 2014.

Overall, all mentioned minerals have been decreasing within time, where the significant change is on nickel where the price have dropped drastically whereas just zinc have incresed price slightly.

In the starting month of the year the highest price is nickel which is mentioned as 6% which decreased by time and reached 1% by the end of the year which brings to lowest in the end of the year whereas a common factor in all three minerals was from the month of june to july the prices rose instantly and remained constant for next three month till september and decresed for the month of october and incresed in the next month.

As nickel have most drastical changes in price as it started from 6% and went to -6% by the month of june and in the december went to 1% where copper and zinc have been fluctuating prices by time but does not have significant change as copper started from 2% and went to nearly 1.5% and zinc started from 1% and went to 2% by the end of the year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the three metals and include relevant overall comparisons, especially nickel’s sharp fall and zinc’s rise by year-end. However, the overview is not fully accurate: “all mentioned minerals have been decreasing” overlooks the recovery in the second half and zinc’s overall increase. Some details also misreport the graph: nickel falls to about -3% in June, not -6%, and its lowest point is then, rather than at year-end. The claim that all three rose from June to July and stayed constant through September is only partly supported; copper rises, while nickel and zinc remain below zero before recovering later. To strengthen the response, give a clearer, accurate overview and select key turning points and comparisons without overgeneralising.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable progression: an introduction, an overview, and further details about the metals. This gives the reader a basic structure, and phrases such as “whereas” and “by the end of the year” help connect comparisons and time references. However, the long third paragraph combines several stages and comparisons in one sentence, making the sequence difficult to follow. The final paragraph repeats nickel’s changes and adds copper and zinc without a clear grouping. Some references, such as “a common factor,” are also unclear because the trends are not actually common to all three metals. Use shorter sentences and organise the details into clearer groups, for example nickel separately from copper and zinc.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “fluctuating,” “drastically,” “decreased,” and “remained constant,” and the reader can generally understand the intended comparisons. However, the range and control are uneven. Several word choices or combinations are unnatural, such as “change in price,” “have been decreasing within time,” and “went to” when describing a figure. Repeated use of “price” and “by time” also limits precision. Spelling errors—including “minireals,” “coppor,” “incresed,” and “decresed”—are noticeable and weaken clarity. Aim for accurate graph language such as “monthly percentage change,” “fell to,” “rose to,” and “recovered,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including comparisons with “whereas” and time clauses, but complex structures are often faulty and errors recur. For example, “the price have dropped” has incorrect subject–verb agreement, while “As nickel have most drastical changes” lacks a correct verb structure. Articles and plurals are also inconsistent in “change in price of 3 different…” and “the prices rose.” Several sentences run together, particularly the sentence beginning “In the starting month,” so punctuation and clause boundaries are difficult to follow. Practise building shorter, complete sentences first, then combine them accurately using clauses such as “while” or “whereas.” Check agreement and tense consistently.

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.