Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-30

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 graph illustrates the information about fluctuation in price of three differerant metals namly copper, nickel and zink during the period of 2014.

FIrstly, in the period of january nickel is at its higest point with 6% change in price and copper and zinc are almost at the same place with 1% differant in price.In februarytheris is some change happen in price of nickel 2% price dropped compares with perivous month and same in the cooper but it decrese only 1%, But on the other side price of zinc is increasd by 2% compares to perivious month.In the month of march april and may the price of every metal has decresed to almost same price copper with 1.5% nickel with highest price drop with 3.5% of change and zink is almodst same as a copper with 1% change in price.Respectively , in the month of june nickel touched its lowest price change with -3% change in price and zinc also drop to -1% change in price,But the price of copper remaind almost same as previous month.

Secondly,in the second half of the year price are started to increse in july nickel has -2% change in price while copper and zinc increse with 1% change in price then perivous month.In the month of augest september are remainedthe same. After in the month of octomber a slight movement happen in the price the price of every metal decersed with 1% change.On the other side price of nickel and zink has increesd with large amount of margin with 4% and 3% change in price. In the month of december every matal has almost same change with 1%.

Overall, the price of metal has fluctuatrion over the period on the one half of the year price decersed and on the second half of year price is incresed so we can say that price of metal has fluacuation.But in the middle of the year price remained same.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the three metals and describe several important movements, including nickel’s January peak and June low, and the general recovery towards the end of the year. However, some figures and comparisons are inaccurate: copper is reported as falling by 1% in February, although it falls from 2% to 1% (a 1 percentage-point change, not a price change of 1% as phrased); the March–May account misstates the metals’ levels and trends; and October is not a month when every metal decreases. Nickel and zinc rise in November, not after October in the way your account suggests. The overview is also vague and says prices remained the same in the middle of the year, which does not capture the sharp June falls. Select the main trends more accurately and summarise them clearly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, two chronological sections and a concluding overview. The use of “Firstly” and “Secondly” helps signal the division between the first and second halves of the year. However, progression within paragraphs is difficult to follow because several months and metals are packed into long sentences, and some links are unclear. For example, “In the month of march april and may” combines three periods without clearly separating their changes, while “After in the month of…” disrupts the sequence. The conclusion repeats the idea of fluctuation rather than synthesising the key contrasts. Use shorter, clearly organised comparisons and connect each sentence to a specific period or trend.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant chart vocabulary, including “change in price,” “dropped,” “increased,” and “lowest,” so the reader can generally identify the topic and direction of movement. However, the range is limited and several expressions are inaccurate or awkward, such as “same place,” “large amount of margin,” and “slight movement happen.” Repeated use of “change” and “price” also makes the description less precise. Spelling errors—including “differerant,” “higest,” “perivious,” and “fluacuation”—are frequent enough to distract the reader. Build a more reliable set of terms for describing rises, falls, stability, peaks and troughs, and check spelling carefully. More precise vocabulary would make the comparisons easier to understand.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts longer sentences and uses time clauses, but complex structures are often faulty, and errors occur frequently enough to make some passages difficult to interpret. For example, “in the period of january nickel is at its higest point” lacks appropriate tense and sentence punctuation, while “the price of every metal has decresed” uses an unsuitable verb form for describing past chart data. Agreement and sentence construction are also problematic in “price are started to increse,” and several sentences run together without clear punctuation. Use the past simple consistently for the 2014 data, form complete sentences, and separate comparisons with full stops or semicolons. Practising accurate simple sentences before adding subordinate clauses will improve clarity.

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