Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-01

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 graphs tracks that how much prices of copper, zinc and nickel altered over the period of 12 months in 2014.

Overall, nickel prices reduced significantly despite of being most expensive metal initially. Moreover, despite of dramatic fluctuations, all metals had almost same percentages by the end of 2014 with lowest percentages shown in the months of June and October.

Firstly, nickel started from 6% in January and drastically reduced to just 1% in just 3 months, then droped slightly near to 0% in May before going to negative 3%, lowest of all in June. After that, it remained stable at 0% for two months and then increased to 1% by the end of the year.

Secondly, zinc was at 1% at the start of the year, climbed to 3% just in a single month before falling significantly to -1% in June, then fluctuated between -1 to 0 till October before rising to 2% in December. Finally, copper prices fluctuated relatively little, dropped from 2% to just below 0% in first six months, then after slight fluctuations, ended at 1.5% in December.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all parts of the task by identifying the main trends for the three metals. You successfully highlighted the significant decline in nickel and the relative stability of copper. However, the overview is slightly imprecise; stating that all metals had 'almost same percentages' by the end of the year is not fully supported by the data, as the values range from 0% to 2%. To reach a higher band, ensure that the overview captures the most significant trends rather than attempting to group disparate data points together. The selection of data is generally relevant, though more precise comparisons between the metals at key points (e.g., the start and end of the year) would strengthen the analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use transition signals such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Finally' to guide the reader through the data. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical. For instance, the transition 'Moreover' in the second paragraph is slightly awkward in context. Additionally, some referencing is a bit repetitive. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that the progression of ideas flows more naturally between sentences. Paragraphing is used appropriately, which helps the overall readability of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fluctuations', 'drastically', and 'stable'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'reduced significantly despite of being' (should be 'despite being') and 'almost same percentages' (should be 'almost the same percentages'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more sophisticated collocations and ensuring that your word choices are grammatically sound within the sentence structure.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'The line graphs tracks that how much' (should be 'The line graph tracks how much'), 'droped' (spelling error), and 'near to 0%' (should be 'near 0%'). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. You should focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions. Additionally, ensure that your spelling is accurate, as errors like 'droped' detract from the professional tone of the report.

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

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