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 change in the prices of three metals copper, nickel and zinc during the year of 2014.

Overall, zinc saw the highest increase over the year, while nickel ended with the lowest value. Moreover, copper fluctuate its price.

Regarding nickel, it started with 6% in the month of January, after that it has declined sharply up to 1% in April, still continuously fell down to -3 in June, then remained same from July to September up to -1%, and leveled up to 1% in December. Similarly copper, it started with 2% in January then it decreased roughly to -1%, then remained same from July to September and slightly increased to approximately 2% in December.

Lastly, with regards to Zinc, initially beginning with 1% in January, then went up to 3% in February, again went back to 1% in May, still declined up to -1% in October, then leveled up to 2% in December.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the three metals and report several important movements, including nickel’s sharp fall to a low in June and the metals’ recovery toward year-end. However, the overview is not fully accurate: zinc did not have the highest increase over the year; nickel began much higher and zinc’s December figure was 2%, compared with copper at about 1.5% and nickel at 1%. The copper description also says it fell to roughly -1%, although the graph shows about -0.5%, and its final value is overstated. Some key comparisons are therefore unclear or misleading, and the account of zinc’s changes is less complete. A more precise overview and carefully checked figures would make the response address the main features more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for nickel and copper, followed by zinc. This makes the information easy to locate, and sequencing expressions such as “initially,” “then,” and “in December” help show change over time. The organisation is coherent, but some linking is mechanical or awkward, particularly the repeated “then” and “still” in the data descriptions. “Similarly copper” also does not make the relationship between the two series clear. To strengthen progression, group metals with similar patterns or compare their turning points directly, and use a wider range of accurate links rather than listing each movement in sequence.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a suitable range of trend vocabulary, including “declined sharply,” “remained,” “slightly increased,” and “leveled up,” so the main movements are generally understandable. There are also some imprecise or unnatural choices: “zinc saw the highest increase over the year” does not accurately describe the data, while “fluctuate its price” is an awkward collocation and “went back to 1%” is less precise than a trend verb. “Leveled up” is informal for an academic report, and “fell down” is redundant. Aim for precise, neutral reporting verbs and use them consistently; this will improve both naturalness and accuracy without requiring more complicated vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of sentence forms, including longer sequences describing several changes, and the reader can usually follow the intended timeline. However, some sentences are not well controlled. For example, “Moreover, copper fluctuate its price” has a subject–verb agreement error, and “Similarly copper, it started” has faulty sentence construction. The long nickel sentence joins several stages with commas and lacks consistent tense control (“it has declined” among past-tense descriptions). Articles and punctuation also need attention, as in “the month of January” and the comma after “Similarly.” Practise forming complete, well-punctuated sentences and keep past-tense verbs consistent when describing the 2014 data.

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