Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-07

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 monthly percentage change in the price of three metals: copper, nickel and zinc. Relative to the previous month throughout 2014.

Overall all three metals experienced their sharpest price rise in January, followed by a general decline into negative territory by mid year, before recovering somewhat towards the end of the year.

Nickle showed the most volatile pattern surging by six-percent in January before falling steadily to low of -3% in June, the lowest point recorded by any metal. It then fluctuated around -1% until October, when it dropped to -2% before rebounding to 1% in November and December.

Zinc followed a broadly similar but mixed trajectory, peaking at 3% in February and bottoming out it around to -1% between June and October, before climbing back to 2% by December.

Copper remained comparatively stable throughout the year, fluctuating narrowly between -1% to 1%, never matching the dramatic swings seen in Nickle or Zinc.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response effectively identifies the main features of the graph, including the initial peak in January and the subsequent trends for each metal. You have successfully made relevant comparisons, such as noting that copper remained more stable than nickel or zinc. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the data. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are accurate; for instance, the description of zinc's trajectory contains minor inaccuracies regarding the specific months and values. Overall, the response is well-focused and covers all parts of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for each metal. The progression of ideas is smooth, and you use cohesive devices like 'followed by', 'before', and 'while' effectively to link information. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different categories of data. The referencing is generally clear, though the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs could be slightly more refined to improve the flow. Overall, the structure is coherent and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends, using terms such as 'surging', 'fluctuated', 'rebounding', and 'trajectory'. There are some spelling errors, such as 'Nickle' (should be 'Nickel'), which occur repeatedly. While you use some less common items, the spelling inconsistencies and minor word choice errors (e.g., 'bottoming out it around to') prevent a higher score. However, the vocabulary is generally precise enough to convey the intended meaning clearly throughout the report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. There are some grammatical slips, such as the sentence fragment in the introduction ('Relative to the previous month...') and minor punctuation or preposition errors (e.g., 'bottoming out it around to'). Despite these, the majority of your sentences are error-free, and the errors do not impede communication. To improve, focus on proofreading for small mechanical errors and ensuring that introductory phrases are properly attached to the main clause.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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