Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · 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 4.0)

The graph demonstrate the average monthly change in the prices of three metals during 2014. These metals are copper, zinc and nickel. This graph shows the months in every year that how the metals up and down with the passage of time.

When the time passed the percentage of nickel decreased when it reached to the month of December. Zinc started from one percent in the month of January when it reached to December it is increased to one percent only. Copper started from 2 percent however it dropped 0.2 percent in December.

Firstly

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

You identify the three metals and attempt to describe changes over the year, but the response does not provide a clear, accurate overview of the main trends. Several figures are misreported: zinc rises from about 1% in January to 2% in December, not “one percent only”; copper ends at about 1.5%, not 0.2%; and nickel falls sharply in June before recovering to around 1% by December, rather than simply decreasing through December. The response also stops before reporting the key comparisons and contains only 82 words, below the required 150. To improve, give an overview of the metals’ contrasting patterns, then support it with accurate start, low-point and end figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 3.5

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: an opening identifies the chart, followed by comments on nickel, zinc and copper. However, the ideas do not develop into a complete, logically progressing summary. The transition “When the time passed” is vague, and “Firstly” appears at the end without introducing a following point, leaving the response unfinished. The metals are discussed in separate statements, but there is little comparison or clear grouping of related trends. Use a short introduction, an overview paragraph, and one or two paragraphs that group the metals by their movements. Linking expressions should clarify time and contrast rather than simply signal a list.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some relevant chart vocabulary, including “percentage,” “decreased,” “started” and “dropped,” so the reader can recognise that you are describing changes over time. However, the range is limited and several expressions are imprecise or unnatural, such as “how the metals up and down” and “when the time passed.” “Increased to one percent only” also does not clearly express the actual change. Aim for accurate trend language and collocations, for example “fluctuated,” “fell to a low of,” “recovered,” and “rose to.” These choices would help you describe the graph more precisely without relying on repeated basic verbs.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response includes simple sentences and an attempt at a longer time clause, but grammatical control is inconsistent. For example, “The graph demonstrate” has subject–verb disagreement, while “This graph shows the months in every year that how…” has an awkward and faulty clause structure. In “when it reached to the month of December it is increased,” the tense and clause construction are not controlled. These errors sometimes make the intended meaning difficult to follow. Practise forming clear past-tense comparisons, such as “Nickel fell sharply in June, then recovered by November,” and check agreement, articles and punctuation. A wider range of accurate sentence patterns would make the report easier to read.

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