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 under illustrates the average monthly change between the prices of three metals since 2014.

Overall the line graph of changing pricing level of metals like copper, nickel,zinc are fluctuating compared with the previous month.It starts from January and ends with the month of December.

We can notice that the pricing range of copper in January month is falling from next 5 months.But in July it is quitely increasing.Though it is also fall down in November.But in December or the last month of the year is in the growing range.

After the copper ,now we are discussing about the nickel metal.The percentage of the January month is 6%.It is the higher range of the year 2014.After this month it is totally decreasing.And June is the highest range of falling down.But we can see,in December, it is showing a little percentage of rising level.

Now we are taliking about the last metal which is zinc.The liner shows that in January, it was in 1% range.But after a month it is raising by 3% which was quite impressive.After that it was fluctuating by the range of decreasing and increasing.In December, it also rised by 3%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify all three metals and include several relevant figures, such as nickel’s January peak of 6% and copper’s small rise at the end of the year. However, the response only partly summarises the main features: it gives no clear overview of the metals’ contrasting overall patterns, and some descriptions are inaccurate or unclear. For example, copper does not fall in November; it remains around 0.5% before rising in December. Zinc ends at about 2%, not 3%, and its movements are described vaguely as “fluctuating.” The account of nickel’s sharp June fall is useful, but the later recovery is not explained. Select the key peaks, troughs and shared movements, and report them accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic paragraph structure, moving from an introduction and overview to separate paragraphs on copper, nickel and zinc. This makes the metals easy to identify, and phrases such as “After this month” help show sequence. However, progression is often mechanical: “Now we are discussing” and “Now we are talking” repeatedly announce the next topic rather than linking comparisons. The overview is too general to guide the reader, and several sentences contain unclear references, such as “it is totally decreasing” and “it also rised by 3%.” Organise the body around meaningful stages or comparisons, and use precise references to months and metals so the relationships between points are clear.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “percentage,” “fluctuating,” “increasing” and “decreasing,” so the reader can generally understand the subject. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, which makes parts of the report awkward or imprecise. Examples include “pricing level,” “higher range,” “quitely increasing” and “the highest range of falling down.” There are also spelling errors such as “taliking,” “liner” and “rised.” Aim for standard graph language such as “price change,” “peak,” “fell sharply” and “recovered,” and check spelling and word forms. More precise vocabulary would help you describe trends without relying on repeated general terms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some longer sentences and use basic time references, but sentence structures are limited and errors occur frequently enough to make several statements difficult to follow. For example, “the line graph of changing pricing level of metals … are fluctuating” has problems with sentence construction and subject–verb agreement, while “But in December or the last month of the year is in the growing range” lacks a clear grammatical structure. Articles and prepositions are also often missing or awkward, as in “in January month” and “After the copper.” Use straightforward, complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and practise accurate past-tense forms when describing the 2014 data. Punctuation spacing and sentence boundaries also need attention.

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.