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)

This graph demonstrates the average monthly veriation in the cost of three metals during 2014.

Overall, the price of nickel drops dramatically from january to december while copper remains almost steady. On the other hand price of zinc increases by one point during this year.

Both nickel and copper drops from january to march while they remains almost same till april and shows slight decline through the month of march. Nickel drops more dramatically as compare to copper in june while copper, nickel and zinc shows a steady price from july to september. In december there is a drop in graph of nickel, on the other hand copper show a slight decline.

Price of zinc increases from january to february and gradually drops down till june. Zinc shows slight growth in july and remains steady till september. It shows little decline in october and then there is a high growth till november and december.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main contrast between nickel’s larger fluctuations and copper’s relative stability, and you include a separate account of zinc. However, the overview contains important inaccuracies: nickel does not drop continuously from January to December, since it rises from −2% in October to about 1% in November and stays there in December. Copper also ends higher than it is in October and November, rather than showing a December decline. Some monthly details are unclear or incorrect: the metals do not all remain steady from July to September, and nickel’s sharpest fall is into June. To strengthen the response, give a more accurate overview of the mid-year downturn and late-year recovery, and select a few key figures to support the comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the metals’ movements. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression within the body is sometimes difficult to follow because the account shifts between metals and months, and some links are unclear. For example, “Both nickel and copper drops from january to march” is followed by a confusing reference to remaining the same “till april” and a decline “through the month of march.” The repeated use of “On the other hand” also makes connections feel mechanical rather than precise. Organise the details into clearer time periods or discuss each metal consistently, and use linking phrases that accurately show contrast, continuation, or change.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for describing trends, including “drops dramatically,” “remains almost steady,” “gradually drops,” and “slight growth.” These expressions make the general direction of movement understandable. There are, however, some inaccurate word choices and collocations: “variation in the cost” is less precise than language about price changes, and “high growth” is not a natural description of the rise in zinc. “Steady price” can also suggest the actual price level rather than the monthly percentage change. Spelling errors such as “veriation” and “january” reduce accuracy. Aim for precise trend vocabulary such as “fell,” “recovered,” and “fluctuated,” and check spelling and capitalization.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. However, errors in agreement and sentence construction occur in several places. For example, “Both nickel and copper drops” should use a plural verb, while “they remains” also has incorrect agreement. In “copper, nickel and zinc shows,” the plural subject again requires a plural verb. There are also tense and article problems, as in “copper show a slight decline” and “in the graph of nickel.” Some sentences combine several time references without clear grammatical control, particularly the sentence about January to April and March. Practise consistent past-tense reporting and subject–verb agreement, while separating complex descriptions into clearer clauses.

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.