Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-20

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 6.5)

The graph demonstrates the average monthly changes in the prices of three metals in 2014.

Overall the prices of all the metals fell in the summer months whereas, a general trend of rise was observed in the colder months with nickel showing the most dramatic changes over the course of months.

The price of zinc increased from 1% in January to 3% by February followed by a gradual decline to -1% in June. It showed a slight increase of -0.5% over the next 3 months before falling to -1% again in September. However, in November and December it again rose to 1% and 2% respectively. The price of copper showed a significant drop from 2% in January to -0.5% till May and June, after which it rose to 1% in July. Over the course of next few months the prices remained steady showing a fall of 0.5% in October and November before rising to 1.5% in December.

The widest range of changes were observed in the prices of nickel plummeting from 6% in January to 1% in March. Remaining steady over the next month, the price started decreasing again in May showing a dramatic fall to -3% in June. The prices rose to -1% in July and remained steady before falling to -2% in October. In November the price shot to 1% and no changes were observed in December.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively covers the main features of the graph, identifying key trends and making relevant comparisons between the three metals. You have successfully highlighted the volatility of nickel and the general seasonal patterns. However, the report could be improved by ensuring that all data points mentioned are accurate and clearly linked to the graph's timeline. For instance, describing a change of -0.5% as an 'increase' is confusing and technically inaccurate. While you have provided a good overview, ensure that the distinction between positive and negative values is handled with greater precision to fully satisfy the requirements for a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs dedicated to each metal. The progression of ideas is easy to follow, and you have used a variety of cohesive devices such as 'however', 'whereas', and 'over the course of' to link sentences effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different data sets. To reach a higher band, ensure that the transition between sentences is even smoother and avoid repetitive sentence structures, which can occasionally make the flow feel slightly mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a good range of vocabulary appropriate for describing trends, such as 'plummeting', 'dramatic fall', 'remained steady', and 'shot to'. This demonstrates a sufficient range for the task. There are occasional minor inaccuracies, such as using 'increase' to describe a move toward a negative value (e.g., 'slight increase of -0.5%'). Improving the precision of your word choice when discussing negative figures will help you achieve a higher score. Overall, your vocabulary is varied and helps convey the information clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most of your sentences are clear and error-free, which allows for easy communication. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'the widest range of changes were observed' (should be 'was observed' to agree with 'range') and 'over the course of next few months' (missing 'the'). Despite these occasional errors, your control over complex structures is generally good, and the errors do not impede the reader's understanding of the data.

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

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