Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The given chart illustrates the average monthly change in the prices of three metals which are copper, nickel and zinc during the year 2014.

According to the data of prices of metals, Zinc was the only metal that had a 2 percent of surge in the price compared with the previous month, moreover, other metals such as Copper and Nickel had a decline in the price percentage. Although, Copper had a small drop in the price percentage but Nickel suffered a steep decline in the change of price in percentage from 6 percent at the first month of the year 2014 to 1 percent in the next 2 month till the end of march. Again the price was constant till April then it took a major drop that the prices went negative. Although, other metals such as Copper and Zinc were dropping in the price percentage and were below zero and reached nearly negative 1 but Nickel suffered a drastic drop.

From the month of June, the all three metals started to grow but only Copper managed to surpass the negeative pricing, the other two metals stayed below zero till october and took a sudden growth

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the three metals and report several relevant movements, including nickel’s sharp fall and the later recovery of the metals. However, the response only partially covers the graph: it has no clear overall summary of the main pattern, and some comparisons are inaccurate or unclear. For example, zinc did not uniquely reach a 2% rise: it did so in December, while nickel reached about 6% in January. Copper also remained above zero from July onward, rather than being the only metal to recover from negative territory from June; zinc and nickel returned to positive changes in November. Include a concise overview and select accurate high and low points to make the key trends clear.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is some organisation: the opening identifies the chart, and the response broadly moves from early-year figures to later changes. However, the main information is presented in a single long body paragraph, so the reader has to work to distinguish the overview from the details. Linking words such as “Although” and “Again” are sometimes used awkwardly or without a clear relationship between the ideas, and the final sentence ends without completing the point about the metals’ recovery. Use separate paragraphs for an overview and the main stages, and connect comparisons directly—for example, contrast nickel’s fall with copper’s smaller changes, then describe the shared late-year recovery.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of vocabulary for describing movement, including “surge,” “steep decline,” “constant,” and “drastic drop.” This gives you some useful variety, but several choices are imprecise or unnatural for a graph description, such as “a 2 percent of surge,” “negative pricing,” and “grow” for a percentage change. Repetition of “price percentage” also makes the account less precise. Spelling errors such as “negeative” are noticeable. Prefer standard chart language and distinguish a change in price from the price itself: for instance, say that the monthly change “rose” or “fell,” or that it “turned negative.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You try to form longer sentences with contrast and time clauses, but complex structures are often faulty, and errors sometimes make the relationships between events difficult to follow. Examples include “Although, Copper had a small drop … but Nickel suffered,” where the contrast is constructed incorrectly, and “From the month of June, the all three metals started to grow,” which has problems with the article and sentence structure. There are also unclear constructions such as “the prices went negative” and “till october.” Aim for shorter, controlled sentences, checking articles, agreement, punctuation, and clause structure. For example: “Nickel fell sharply in June, while copper and zinc also recorded negative changes.”

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