Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-07-24

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 6.5)

The line graph shows the average monthly change in the prices of three metals during the year 2014.

Overall, in the beginning of the year the highest average change in price was observed for Nickel and then Copper and then Zinc. At the end of the year Nickel price change closed with 1%, Copper and Zinc with slight increase in price change with Zinc at the higher end.

In beginning of the the year in January, Nickel oberved the highest change in price of 6%, then Zinc with a change of 2% and Copper prices remains unchanged. For Nickel the % change in price kept falling till March, then being consitent no change till April before falling sharply down to -3% in June. For Zinc the % change in price rose to 3% in Feburary before declining back to 15 in May and then sharply falling to -1% in June. For Copper the change in price started decreasing from beginning till around -0.5% in June.

After first half of the year price change of Copper, Nickel and Zinc first increased to 1%, -1% and -0.5% respectively. Then all three remain consistent till September before closing to 1% (Nickel), 1.5% (Copper) and 2% (Zinc) by December.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the graph and provided a clear overview. You covered all three metals and made relevant comparisons throughout the report. However, there are some inaccuracies in your data reporting that affect the precision of your response. For instance, you mention Zinc declining to '15' in May, which is a significant typographical error that makes the data confusing. Additionally, some of your descriptions of the trends, such as the specific percentages in the second half of the year, are slightly imprecise compared to the visual data. To improve, ensure you double-check your figures against the graph and focus on highlighting the most significant fluctuations rather than listing every minor movement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

Your response is logically organized into paragraphs, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs detailing the trends. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'In beginning of the year', 'After first half of the year', and 'Then all three', which help the reader follow the progression of time. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel repetitive. The referencing is generally clear, but the structure within the body paragraphs could be improved by grouping information more effectively to avoid a list-like feel. Using a wider variety of linking words would enhance the overall cohesion of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'average monthly change', 'remains unchanged', and 'declining'. However, there are several spelling errors, such as 'oberved' instead of 'observed', 'consitent' instead of 'consistent', and 'Feburary' instead of 'February'. These errors are noticeable but do not impede communication. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise collocations and ensure accurate spelling. You rely on basic descriptors; incorporating more sophisticated vocabulary related to trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'stabilized', or 'marginal', would strengthen your lexical profile.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('in beginning of the the year') and verb tense consistency. Some sentences are slightly awkward, such as 'Copper and Zinc with slight increase in price change'. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your meaning, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall accuracy. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and proofreading for minor grammatical slips will help you achieve a higher score in this criterion.

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