Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-24

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 prices of copper, nickel and zinc for the year 2014.

Prices for Nickel decreased sharply from January to March, and then they slightly decreased from April to May, and then decreased sharply to their lowest in June. However, it increased in July and stayed constant until September, after which it decreased again. Furthermore, there is a sharp increase in November, and then it becomes constant. Zinc, on the other hand, had an increase in its price from January to February, after which it consistently decreased until June. In addition, Zinc follows a similar pattern to Nickel from June to November, though the variance is less, and after that it increases instead of staying constant like Nickel. Although Copper prices also decreased from January to June, it was a gradual decrease instead of a sharp decline. In addition to that, copper prices behaved in a similar pattern to Zinc and Nickel from June to October, but its low point was significantly higher than the other two. Lastly, it remained constant till November, after which it showed an increase.

Overall, all three metals have a similar macro-pattern when it comes to prices, with individual variances between the delta and time periods.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all three metals and identifies the main trends. However, the report lacks a clear overview of the data, as the summary provided at the end is quite vague and does not highlight the most significant features, such as the overall volatility or the specific peaks and troughs. While the description of the trends is generally accurate, the response relies heavily on a chronological listing of changes rather than grouping information logically to facilitate comparison. To reach a higher band, you should ensure the overview clearly synthesises the most important trends and differences between the metals, rather than just describing them sequentially.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organised, with each paragraph focusing on specific aspects of the data. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Furthermore', 'In addition', and 'On the other hand' are used to link ideas. However, the flow is somewhat mechanical, and the paragraphing could be improved; the second paragraph is quite long and dense, making it difficult to follow the comparisons between the three metals. Better use of paragraph breaks or thematic grouping (e.g., grouping by similar trends rather than just listing each metal) would enhance the logical progression of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing for a clear description of the trends. You use terms like 'decreased sharply', 'gradual decrease', and 'remained constant' effectively. However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive, particularly in the way you describe changes. There is little use of less common or more sophisticated vocabulary that would demonstrate a higher level of lexical control. To improve, try to incorporate more varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' and use more precise language to describe the degree of change.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While most sentences are clear and the meaning is conveyed without difficulty, there are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'it increased' (referring to Nickel) and 'it becomes constant' (tense inconsistency). Additionally, some sentences are slightly repetitive in their structure. To achieve a higher band, ensure consistent use of verb tenses when describing past data and aim for a greater variety of complex sentence forms to improve the sophistication of your writing.

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

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