Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-03
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 information about the price change of three metals in 2014.
Overall, while nickel prices experienced a significant downward trend, zinc witnessed a steady fluctuations throughout the period. Notably, the prices of three metals significantly fell from January to December.
The figure for nickel decreased from 6% in January to 1% in March with sharp fell. It then remained same during may and reached its lowest point with only -3% in June, which was the lowest price recorded for any metal. However, after June it increased by 2% and remained stable during September and then it again dropped to -2% in October and remained at 1% in last two months. The same pattern can be seen for price of zinc, where it started with 1% and after experienced some fluctuations it reached at 2% in December.
Turning to copper prices, it has 2% in January, and with slight decline it reached above-1% in May and June. Whereas, between June and July it increased to 1% and remained almost same during the end of the period.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the graph, including the overall trends and specific data points. However, the analysis is somewhat inaccurate in its description of the data. For instance, stating that all three metals 'significantly fell from January to December' is not supported by the graph, as zinc ends higher than it started. Additionally, some data points are misread or described vaguely, such as 'above-1%' for copper. While the overview is present, the lack of precision in reporting the data and the misinterpretation of the trends prevent this from reaching a higher band. To improve, ensure that data points are read accurately and that the summary reflects the actual visual evidence provided.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs focusing on specific metals. Cohesive devices such as 'Notably', 'However', and 'Turning to' are used to guide the reader. However, the progression of ideas is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing and mechanical transitions. For example, the transition 'The same pattern can be seen for price of zinc' is inaccurate, as the patterns described are not identical. The use of referencing is sometimes unclear, which affects the overall flow. Improving the variety of cohesive devices and ensuring they are used to accurately reflect the relationships between data points would enhance the coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, with attempts to use descriptive terms like 'significant downward trend', 'steady fluctuations', and 'remained stable'. However, there are several errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'with sharp fell' (should be 'a sharp fall') and 'remained same' (should be 'remained the same'). These errors are noticeable but do not prevent the reader from understanding the general meaning. To achieve a higher band, focus on using more precise terminology for describing trends and ensure correct grammatical forms of nouns and adjectives are used consistently.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('the price of zinc'), verb tenses ('it has 2% in January'), and word forms ('with sharp fell'). Some sentences are poorly constructed, such as 'it reached above-1% in May and June', which lacks clarity. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the frequency of these errors is high enough to impact the overall quality of the writing. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles would significantly improve the accuracy of the writing.
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