Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-07-28

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 graph illustrates the average monthly change in the prices of three metals during 2014.

Overall, nickel had the highest percentages in January in 2014. Copper had the second highest proportion and zinc had lowest proportion in January. At the end, in December, this three types of metals reached in similar price.

First, in 2014, nickel had the highest percentages like 6% and copper had the second highest proportion also zinc had the lowest percentages. Nickel price drooped slightly in February and also remained same in march. Furthermore, copper price also decreased slightly in February and both remained same in march and April. After rising in February, zinc price fell during March and April at 2% and 1.5% . Nickel fell drooped continuously to -3 in June and zinc also decreased in price to -1 . Copper price slightly stable in march to June then increased to 1% in July and price remained unchanged from July to September. However, nickel slightly increased to -1 from July and remained stable from June to September. Also zinc price increased at little and remained unchanged from June to September. All three metals slightly fell drooped in price in October also both zinc and nickel roughly increased in price at 2% in November. Finally, at the end of the year in December, zinc and copper both had continuously increased in price at 2% and 1.5% but nickel remained stable.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses the task by identifying the main features of the graph. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical, listing data points rather than synthesising trends effectively. The overview provided is slightly inaccurate, as the graph shows monthly changes rather than absolute prices, and the claim that they reached a 'similar price' in December is not supported by the data, which shows percentage changes. While the main features are covered, the lack of clear, comparative analysis and the misinterpretation of the data type limit the score. To improve, focus on grouping trends (e.g., periods of decline vs. growth) rather than describing each month chronologically.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often repetitive or mechanical (e.g., 'First', 'Furthermore', 'Also'). The progression of ideas is sometimes hindered by awkward phrasing, such as 'At the end, in December, this three types of metals reached in similar price.' While there is an attempt to use linking words, the logical flow between sentences is occasionally disrupted by the focus on individual data points rather than coherent trends. Improving the variety of transition signals and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would enhance the coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There is frequent repetition of basic terms like 'price', 'percentage', and 'proportion'. Some word choices are inaccurate, such as 'drooped' (which is not standard in this context) and 'stable' used to describe a percentage change. There are also minor errors in word formation, such as 'this three types'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise vocabulary related to trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained constant', 'peaked', or 'a marginal increase', and avoid repeating the same descriptors throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'zinc had lowest proportion'), incorrect preposition usage (e.g., 'increased at little'), and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'reached in similar price'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors requires the reader to re-read certain parts to understand the intended message. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors like articles and prepositions would significantly improve the clarity and accuracy of your writing.

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