Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-09

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 7.5)

The line graph illustrates the average monthly changes in the prices of copper, nickel and zinc in 2014.

Overall, nickel experienced the largest price change at the beginning of the year, before becoming the least volatile of the three metals. In contrast, zinc followed the opposite trend, starting with the smallest change but ending the year with the largest. Copper, meanwhile, showed relatively stable fluctuations throughout the period.

Nickel experienced a 6% increase in price in January compared with the previous month. This was followed by a steady decline, reaching approximately -3% in June. After that, its price fluctuated before recovering to around 1% in December. In contrast, zinc began the year with a 1% change in price and rose to 3% in February. It then declined gradually, reaching approximately -1% in June. Afterwards, the figure fluctuated slightly and eventually increased to 2% in December, the highest figure among the three metals at the end of the year.

Copper showed comparatively stable changes over the period. Starting at around 2% in January, its price change gradually decreased to approximately -0.5% in June. It then recovered during the second half of the year, finishing at about 1.5% in December.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and successfully selected key features to illustrate the price changes for all three metals. The comparisons between nickel, zinc, and copper are well-integrated, such as noting that nickel was the most volatile initially while zinc ended as the highest. The data is accurately reported, and the summary is balanced, covering the entire period from January to December. You have successfully highlighted the significant fluctuations and the final positions, meeting the requirements for a Band 8 performance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group the information effectively. The progression of ideas is smooth, and you use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Meanwhile', and 'Afterwards' to link sentences and paragraphs. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows logically from the general trends to specific data points. The use of referencing is clear, and the overall structure supports the reader's understanding of the data presented in the graph.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for describing trends and data, such as 'volatile', 'fluctuated', 'steady decline', and 'recovering'. The word choice is precise and natural throughout the text. While the vocabulary is accurate and sufficient, it stays within a standard range. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or nuanced descriptors for the degree of change, but the current range is more than adequate for a clear and professional summary of the provided graph.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a high level of grammatical accuracy. You use a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences with subordinate clauses (e.g., 'After that, its price fluctuated before recovering...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly to manage the flow of information. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent, reflecting a strong command of English grammar suitable for this task.

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