Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-03

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 line graph illustrates the average monthly change in the prices of three metals Copper, Nickel, Zinc throughout the year 2014.

Overall, nickel experienced the most significant fluctuations, while copper show relitavely stable changes throughout the year. All three metals witnessed a decline during the year, but their prices recovered towards the end.

In January, nickel recorded the highest monthly income approximately 6% compared with 2% for copper and 1% for zinc. However, the figure for nickel fell to 4% in Feburary and then drop sharply to 1% in March, whereas copper experienced downfall drop to around 0% in June and rose up to 1.5% in December.

In June, nickel experienced the most dramatic fall, reaching -3% whereas zinc drop from 1% to -1% in October and then reach to 2% in December. In contrast, nickel jump from -3% to -1% in August and then reach to around 1% in our last month.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the main contrast—nickel fluctuated most while copper was comparatively stable—and include several relevant figures, such as nickel’s 6% January rise and its fall to -3% in June. However, the account is only partial: the overview says all three metals declined and recovered, but does not clearly describe the overall pattern or distinguish their different year-end movements. Some details are inaccurate or unclear: copper reached around -0.5% in May and June, not 0% in June; zinc fell to -1% in October, rather than dropping from 1% then; and the copper figure in December was about 1.5%. The response is also 143 words, below the 150-word minimum; the 10 words copied from the prompt are excluded. Add a fuller overview and accurate comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and two detail paragraphs. Sequencing words such as “Overall,” “However,” and “In contrast” help signal relationships, and the reader can follow the broad movement from January to December. However, the progression is uneven: the first detail paragraph moves from nickel to copper, while the next returns to nickel and then zinc, so comparisons are not consistently grouped. Some links also create unclear relationships, as in “zinc drop from 1% to -1% in October,” which makes the timing of the change difficult to follow. Organise the details by shared periods or by metal, and use clearer references to months and figures to make the progression more controlled.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant graph vocabulary, including “fluctuations,” “recorded,” “decline,” and “recovered,” and these choices help communicate the main trends. There is some variety in how you describe movement, but several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “monthly income” for a percentage price change and “downfall drop.” Spelling errors in “relitavely” and “Feburary” also reduce accuracy. Use precise terms for percentage changes and select standard trend collocations; avoid combining near-synonyms. For example, “monthly increase” or “monthly change” is more suitable than “monthly income,” while “fell sharply” is clearer than “downfall drop.” This would make the description more natural and precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast clause with “whereas” and a sentence beginning “In contrast.” The overall meaning is usually recoverable, but errors in verb forms and agreement occur repeatedly: “copper show” should be “copper showed,” “nickel drop” should be “nickel dropped,” and “zinc drop” should be “zinc dropped.” The phrase “nickel jump” also needs a past-tense form, and the opening list would benefit from punctuation to separate the metal names. Some sentences are long and combine several movements without clear grammatical control. Check that verbs consistently describe the past and that each clause has a clear subject and verb; this will improve accuracy while retaining your attempts at complex sentences.

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.