Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-29

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 illustrates the average monthly change in prices of three metals during 2014.

Overall, the percentage change in the price of nickel decreased in the first half of the year before increasing in the second half. In contrast, the proportion of the price of copper fluctuated over the period, whereas the percentage of price of zinc increased in February, then decreased till June before increasing in November.

The percentage of price change of nickel accounted for 6% in January. It then decreased to 5% in February and stood at 1% in March. It then remained unchanged in April and declined slightly to 0.75% in May before felling to a low of -3% in June. This proportion then recovered to -1% in July and remained stable till September before decreasing slightly to -2% in October. However, it then increased gradually to 1% in November and remained unchanged in December. Copper, on the other hand, represented 2% in January. This percentage declined considerably, reaching 1% in February, 0.5% in March and April, and -0.5% in May and June. This share climbed to 1% in July and remained stable till September before decreasing to 0.5% in October. It remained constant in November and peaked at 1.5% in December.

Nevertheless, zinc reported 1% in January. This proportion rose to 3% in February, highest across the period before experiencing consistent decline. This fell to 2% in March, 1.5% in April, and reached at 1% in May. It then dropped to a low of -1% in June before increasing to -0.5% in July. This percentage remained constant till September before decreasing again to -1% in October. It then rose to 1.75% in November and peaked at 2% in December.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively identifies the main features and trends of the three metals. You have provided a clear overview and supported it with specific data points from the graph. However, the report is overly descriptive, listing almost every data point for each month. To reach a higher band, you should focus more on grouping data and highlighting significant trends, peaks, and troughs rather than providing a chronological list of every fluctuation. For example, instead of listing every month for nickel, you could group the period of decline and the subsequent recovery more concisely.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs for each metal. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast,' 'on the other hand,' and 'nevertheless' are used to transition between ideas. However, the paragraphing could be improved by grouping the metals based on their similarities or trends rather than dedicating one paragraph to each, which can feel slightly repetitive. The progression of ideas is generally clear, though the reliance on 'It then' at the start of many sentences makes the flow feel somewhat mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information accurately. Phrases like 'remained unchanged,' 'declined considerably,' and 'peaked at' are used appropriately. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'felling' (should be 'falling') and the repetitive use of 'proportion' and 'percentage' when referring to price changes. To improve, try to vary your terminology by using words like 'fluctuation,' 'volatility,' or 'marginal shift' to describe the movements in the graph.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'reached at 1%' (should be 'reached 1%') and 'percentage of price of zinc' (should be 'percentage price change of zinc'). Additionally, there are minor errors in verb forms, such as 'felling' instead of 'falling.' Despite these errors, your control of grammar is generally good, and the mistakes 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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