Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-04

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 chart illustrates the fluctuations of average monthly changes in prices of three metals, namely copper, nickel and zinc during 2014.

Overall, at the begining of the year, nickel had the highest percentage change in prices followed by copper and zinc. However, copper and zinc maintained less fluctuation of average prices during May to October. However, zinc underwent couple of large fluctuations over that period.

Looking into the details, there was a 6% change in price of nickel at the begining and rapidly reduced to 1% by March. It was maintained under 1% till May. However, in June, there was a -3% change in the price which subsequently reduced to -1% in the next few months. Then again in October, the change was at -2%, which was changed considerably in the last two months, at 1%.

Furthermore, copper had a 2% changed at the begining and had slight fluctuations between 1% to -1% untill November. At the end, it had a 1.5% change in the price just exceeding the nickel. Moreover, zinc started the year with the lowest change, at 1%, which considerably rose to 3% by February. Then the trend was gradually decreased to 1% by May. Zinc had a -1% change in June and it was maintained between 0 to -1% till October. As with the other metals, the percentage change of zinc prices had rose to 2% at the end of the year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the three metals and report several key movements, including nickel’s high starting point and sharp fall, and the generally lower changes in copper and zinc. However, the overview is not fully accurate: copper and zinc were relatively stable from May to October, but zinc did not undergo “a couple of large fluctuations” in that period; its changes stayed close to zero. Some details are also imprecise: copper was at 0.5% in November, then rose to 1.5% in December, while the response says it fluctuated between 1% and -1% until November. The account covers the main trends, but clearer, more accurate comparisons—especially the shared mid-year decline and late-year recovery—would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and separate detail sections covering nickel, copper and zinc. This makes the information easy to follow, and sequencing expressions such as “by March,” “in June” and “at the end of the year” help establish chronology. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical or repetitive. “However” appears several times, including twice in the overview, and “Furthermore” and “Moreover” introduce details without always clarifying the comparison between metals. The overview also moves from the opening ranking to mid-year stability without a smooth link. Grouping the metals’ shared mid-year falls and end-of-year rises would create stronger progression and more purposeful comparisons.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of vocabulary for describing a line graph, including “fluctuations,” “rapidly reduced,” “maintained” and “gradually decreased.” These choices communicate the general direction of change, but several word forms and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “a 2% changed,” “had rose,” and “which was changed considerably.” “Large fluctuations” also overstates zinc’s relatively small movements between May and October. Spelling errors such as “begining” and “untill” are noticeable. Aim for precise, natural graph language: use “change” as a noun, “rose” as the past tense of “rise,” and verbs such as “fell,” “remained” and “recovered” to describe the data accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple sentences and longer structures, including clauses introduced by “which” and “as,” and the overall meaning is generally clear. However, some errors in verb forms and sentence construction remain. For example, “had rose” should be “had risen” or simply “rose,” and “there was a 6% change … and rapidly reduced” lacks a clear subject for the second verb. In “a 2% changed,” the noun phrase is not grammatically formed, while “it was maintained under 1%” uses an unclear passive construction. There are also some awkward tense and clause patterns in “which was changed considerably.” Use consistent past-tense reporting and check that each verb has a clear subject and correct form.

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