Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-01

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 presents data on price fluctuations of zinc, copper and nickel across the year of 2014 . It is designed to illustrate how the values are changed over time.

Copper didn't fluctuate as much as the prices of other minerals fluctuate. There is a only little difference in price of copper from start and the end of the year .It decreases and also increases through out the year.

Overall , nickel was at it's peak in the start of the year but later on it followed a clear downward path , which shows that prices of nickel falls in the year till the month of June and eventually it starts increasing again from July and decreases a little in September but didn't fall again after that month .

Lastly there is not a huge change in price in zinc as compare to nickel .At first it was rose but it start dropping after the first month.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the graph, but the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you identify the general trends for copper, nickel, and zinc, you fail to provide specific data points or clear comparisons between the metals. For instance, you mention 'not a huge change' for zinc, but you do not quantify this or compare it effectively to the other metals. The overview is also weak; it lacks a clear summary of the most significant trends, such as which metal experienced the most volatility. To improve, ensure you select key data points (e.g., the starting and ending values or the peaks) to support your descriptions and provide a more comprehensive overview of the trends.

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 limited and sometimes mechanical. Phrases like 'Lastly' and 'Overall' are used, but the internal flow between sentences is often disjointed. For example, the transition between the description of copper and nickel is abrupt. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'It decreases and also increases through out the year', where the pronoun 'It' is used without a clear link to the subject. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring clear referencing will help the ideas flow more logically.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. You rely on basic verbs like 'decreases', 'increases', and 'falls'. While these are accurate, they are repetitive. There are also some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'at the start of the year' instead of 'at the beginning' and 'at first it was rose' (grammatically incorrect). To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained relatively stable', 'peaked', or 'experienced a downward trend'. Expanding your range of descriptive adjectives and adverbs will also enhance the quality of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'At first it was rose' is incorrect; it should be 'At first it rose'. There are also issues with articles ('the prices of other minerals') and tense consistency ('how the values are changed' should be 'how the values changed'). While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct tense usage will significantly improve your accuracy.

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