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 graph depicts the ordinary monthly variety in the different metals throughout 2014.

Overall, Standard monthly change in 3 mateals vary over the year. The nickel was at top in the beginning of year. while, the copper was on bottom at the start of the first month of year 2014. However, there is slight higher percentage of zinc at beginning. On the other side all three metals were almost at same point with least differences.

In the january of 2014 it was witnessed that nickal at 6% rate with highest price. while, there was major dropdown within 3 months as well as it stay same with slight decrese in price from march to may than significant drop in july to -3%. additionally, in the same month the price goes up to -1 then stay same untill september. furthermore, the price was again drop from september to October then price increased upto 1% and stay same till the end of year.

On the other hand, copper and zinc were not much fluctuations as at the start of the year zinc price was 1% and copper price was 2%. however, zinc price increased to 3% and copper price decreased to 1% then both prices were decreased untill june. while, in june both price was increased slightly. However, at the end of year the highest price was zinc which was 2%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main contrast that nickel began at a much higher rate than the other metals and later fell sharply, and you include several relevant figures, such as nickel at 6% in January and −3% in June. However, the overview is unclear and does not accurately summarise the year: the metals did not all remain “almost at same point” throughout, and nickel’s sharp fall and the shared negative period are important features to highlight. Some details are also inaccurate or confusing. For example, nickel’s rate was −1% in July and remained there through September, rather than rising to −1% after July; copper and zinc did not both increase in June. Give a clearer overview and compare the metals’ movements more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and separate discussion of nickel and the other two metals. This gives the reader some sense of how the information is grouped. However, progression within paragraphs is often difficult to follow because several events are joined in long sequences, and the timeline is not always clear. The repeated connectors “while,” “however,” and “furthermore” sometimes create awkward or contradictory links. For instance, the account of nickel’s movement from June to October is compressed into one chain of clauses. Use shorter sentences, organise the description by clear time periods, and make each comparison explicit so that the relationships between changes are easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You attempt vocabulary relevant to describing a graph, including “significant drop,” “percentage,” “increased,” and “decreased.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate enough to make parts of the report difficult to interpret. Phrases such as “ordinary monthly variety,” “Standard monthly change,” and “highest price” do not clearly describe the monthly percentage change shown. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “mateals,” “nickal,” “dropdown,” and “decrese.” Choose precise terms such as “monthly price change,” “rate,” and “fell,” and check spelling carefully. Avoid using “price” when you mean the percentage change in price.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You use some longer sentence forms and attempt to connect events with clauses, but control is inconsistent. Errors in sentence boundaries, tense, agreement and articles occur frequently and sometimes make the timeline hard to understand. For example, “The nickel was at top in the beginning of year” is missing articles, while “the price goes up to -1 then stay same” shifts tense and lacks agreement. Several sentences also begin with lowercase “while” or “however” after a full stop, and the sentence beginning “Overall” contains an unclear subject–verb relationship. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and build shorter sentences with a clear subject and verb before adding more complex structures.

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