Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-12

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 depicts the average monthly alteration in the costs of three metals: copper, nickel, and zinc in the year 2014. Units are calibrated in percentages.

Overall, it is lucid that in the initial month, nickel contributed the largest share in the chart, which was substituted by zinc by the terminal year. In comparison, the index for nickel witnessed a decline with fluctuations throughout the months while zinc showed an upward trend with some variations. Besides, copper remained almost steady over twelve months.

In terms of nickel, average monthly change in prices was dominant in January, standing at 6%. It reduced by 5% in the month of March and then plummeted to -3% in June. In July, it inclined slightly to -1% and remained unchanged for next two months. By November, it reached to 1% after experiencing a decline of 1% in October.

However, the rate of zinc was the lowest in first month, at 1% which rises by 2% in next month. The index plunged to -1% in June and then soared to 2% in last month. Regarding copper, the figure stayed nearly unchanged with slight variations, which accounts for 2% in the starting of the month. During March to June, it was above than -1% and escalated to 1% and reached at almost its initial position by December.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all parts of the task and provides a clear overview of the trends. You successfully identified the main features, such as the volatility of nickel and the relative stability of copper. However, the description of the data is occasionally imprecise. For example, stating that zinc was 'substituted by zinc' is confusing, and the claim that copper remained 'almost steady' is slightly contradicted by the specific data points mentioned later. To reach a higher band, ensure that the overview highlights the most significant differences between the metals more clearly and avoid minor inaccuracies when interpreting the graph's data points.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is generally clear, and you use cohesive devices such as 'In terms of', 'However', and 'Regarding' to transition between topics. However, some cohesive links feel slightly mechanical or forced. For instance, the transition 'Besides, copper remained almost steady' is a bit abrupt. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the phrase 'terminal year' which is not standard terminology for a single-year graph. Improving the flow between sentences would enhance the overall readability.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fluctuations', 'plummeted', 'inclined', and 'soared'. There are, however, some instances of awkward word choice or collocation. For example, 'lucid' is not typically used to describe a graph, and 'contributed the largest share in the chart' is an inaccurate way to describe a percentage change. You also use 'accounts for 2%' incorrectly in the context of a trend. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey meaning, more precise and natural collocations would elevate the score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'above than -1%' (should be 'above -1%'), 'reached at almost' (should be 'reached almost'), and 'in first month' (missing article). Additionally, there are issues with tense consistency and preposition usage. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles will help improve your accuracy.

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