Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-11

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 6.0)

The line graph illustrates the monthly price change compared with previous month of copper, nickel and zinc metals in 2014 Year.

Overall, all three metals prices fluctuated a lot. Zinc metal prices showed the largest while starting with least change in the start of the year whereas nickel metal showed the least change after a dramatic drop.

Zinc metal price change started at 1% in january and reached its peak to 3% in following month. After that it substantially decreased to 1% in fifth month and reached its lowest negative 1% in the month of june. Then it increasd slightly and remained stable for the next three months before a dip. In the october zinc price change again rose sharply, at 2%.

Copper prices fluctuated throughout the year. It stared at 2% at the beginning of year and gradually decreased till april then after a dip in may at aorund 0.5% ramined stable by following month. In June it rose and remained following three months and after a small fluctuation it reached it highest level in december, at 1.5%.

Nickel prices started at 6% the highest change and decreased substantially to 1% in march and then levelled off in the next two months. In july it reached its lowest negative 3% and then in december began to converge the other metals at 1

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main subject and provide an overview, noting that all three metals fluctuate and that nickel begins with the largest change before falling sharply. Several key figures are also reported accurately, including nickel at 6% in January and −3% in June, and copper at 1.5% in December. However, the overview is not fully reliable: zinc does not show the largest overall changes; nickel does, while zinc’s peak is 3%. Some details are unclear or inaccurate, such as saying copper decreased “till April” and describing its May value as around 0.5%, when it is about −0.5%. The nickel account also ends without clearly reporting its final values. Select the main comparisons more precisely and complete the account of each series.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction and overview are followed by separate paragraphs for zinc, copper and nickel. This makes the three series easy to locate, and sequencing phrases such as “After that,” “Then” and “In July” help show changes over time. The organisation is generally coherent, but some links and references are imprecise. For example, “it remained stable for the next three months” does not clearly identify the period or value, and “In the october zinc price change again rose sharply” interrupts the chronological account. The final nickel sentence is incomplete, which leaves the comparison unfinished. Use clearer time references and finish each paragraph with a complete, relevant endpoint.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “fluctuated,” “reached its peak,” “decreased substantially,” “levelled off” and “remained stable.” These choices help describe movement rather than merely list figures. However, some word choices and collocations are awkward or imprecise, such as “showed the largest,” “reached its lowest negative 1%,” and “began to converge the other metals.” Repetition of “price change” and “metal” also makes parts of the report less natural. There are spelling errors, including “increasd,” “stared” and “ramined,” which reduce accuracy. Aim for precise trend language, such as “recorded the greatest fluctuation” or “fell to −1%,” and proofread spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including time clauses and sequences such as “After that it substantially decreased…” and “In June it rose and remained…”. The main trends are usually understandable, but some grammatical errors affect clarity. The opening phrase “the monthly price change compared with previous month” needs articles and clearer phrasing, while “all three metals prices” has incorrect possessive structure. In “it reached it highest level,” the pronoun is repeated incorrectly, and the final sentence lacks a complete ending. There are also punctuation and capitalisation slips, such as lowercase month names and missing commas after introductory phrases. Check articles, possessives and sentence completeness, while keeping the useful variety of structures.

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