Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-21

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 chart details the average monthly change in cost of three metals copper, nickel and zinc in the year 2014.

Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the average monthly change in price of nickel has significantly decreased by the end. Whereas, copper and zinc were much more stable and ended with minimal change in average prices.

Among all the three metals, Nickel showed a trajectory variation falling dramatically to -3% till June, which further showed little variation in next 4 months and increased steadily to 1% by the end. However, copper remained stable throught out the year, beginning at 2% and reached its lowest point at -0.5% and peaked consistently to 1.5% by the month of December. Furthermore, zinc experienced the most trajectory pattern in 12 months, starting from 1% which peaked to 3% in just a month, began to decline gradually till it reached to -3% and remained consistent for next 4 months, By the end of the period, zinc increased rapidly to 2%, outperforming copper and zinc

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have successfully identified the main features of the graph and provided a clear overview. You covered all three metals and made relevant comparisons, such as noting that zinc outperformed the others by the end of the period. However, there are some inaccuracies in your data reporting. For instance, you stated that zinc 'peaked to 3% in just a month' and later 'outperforming copper and zinc' (which is a logical error as you cannot outperform yourself). Additionally, the description of the trends could be more precise regarding the specific months. To improve, ensure that your data points are accurately transcribed from the graph and avoid contradictory statements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'Looking from an overall perspective,' 'However,' and 'Furthermore' to guide the reader. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing, such as 'trajectory variation' and 'trajectory pattern,' which do not clearly signal the relationship between ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed analysis. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices more naturally and ensure that referencing is precise to avoid confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'trajectory,' 'fluctuated,' and 'outperforming.' However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and collocation errors. For example, 'trajectory variation' and 'trajectory pattern' are not standard collocations in this context. You also have a minor error in the final sentence where you mention 'outperforming copper and zinc' instead of 'copper and nickel.' While your vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, more precise and varied terminology would enhance the quality of your report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'throught out' (spelling), 'in next 4 months' (missing article), and 'reached to -3%' (incorrect preposition usage). Additionally, some sentences are slightly clunky, such as 'peaked consistently to 1.5%,' which is a contradictory collocation. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on article usage and correct prepositional phrases will help improve your accuracy.

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

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