Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-11

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 (copper, nickel and zinc) during 2014.

Overall, it can be seen that nickel experienced the most significant fluctuations, while copper showed least variation throughout the year. All three metal experienced a decline around a middle of the year before gradually recovering towards December.

In January, nickel recorded the highest increase at 6%, whereas copper and zinc stood at 2% and 1% respectively. The price change for nickel than fell sharply to 1 % in march and remained low until may. In contrast , zinc rose to approximately 3% in February before declining gradually. Copper also decreased steadily , reaching around 0% in March and April.

The most noticeable change occur in June, when nickel fell dramatically to -3%, its lowest point of year. Zinc also recorded negative change of approximately -1%, while copper remained close to 0%. From July to September ,copper remained stable at 0%, whereas zinc and nickel remained at approximately -0.5% and -1% respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have successfully identified the main features of the graph, including the overall trends and specific data points for the three metals. You provided a clear overview and supported your points with relevant data from the graph. To reach a higher band, ensure you cover the entire period; your summary stops at September, missing the final quarter of the year. Additionally, ensure all comparisons are accurate; for instance, you mentioned copper showed the 'least variation', which is a good analytical observation. The response is well-structured and addresses the prompt effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'whereas', and 'Overall' to guide the reader. However, the progression is slightly hampered by some mechanical phrasing. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed data analysis. To improve, ensure that the transition between sentences is smoother and that you avoid repetitive sentence structures, which can make the flow feel slightly mechanical at times.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fluctuations', 'variation', 'recorded', and 'dramatically'. There are some minor errors, such as 'All three metal experienced' (should be 'metals') and 'middle of the year' (should be 'the middle'). While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, the range is somewhat limited. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more precise collocations related to data description, such as 'a marginal increase' or 'a significant downturn', rather than relying on basic descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. However, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as 'price change for nickel than fell' (should be 'then'), 'most noticeable change occur' (should be 'occurred'), and 'lowest point of year' (should be 'the year'). These errors do not impede communication, but they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage, as the data refers to a past year (2014).

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

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