Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-04

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 7.0)

The line chart shows the average monthly change in the prices of three metals, namely; copper, nickel and zinc, in the year 2014. From an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that while nickel experienced very high fluctuations, those in copper were least among all the three metals.

Firstly, nickel appeared to be highly volatile. To elaborate, it started at its highest point of 6% positive change, dropping to its lowest level of -3% in June where it stood below all the other metals. Afterwards, it showed some improvement before finally plateauing at positive 1% in the last month. Alternatively, Zinc had comparatively less fluctuations, starting form positive 1% in January, it went to its lowest point of negative 1%, after which it had a positive momentum and ended in December at 2%.

On the contrary, copper was the least volatile metal among all three. Starting from a positive 2% in January, it also saw a downward trend till June, reaching to negative in June. Then, for the rest of the year it had a marginal improvement and finally ended at nearly 2.5% in the last month.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively summarizes the main features of the graph. You have identified the key trends for all three metals and made relevant comparisons, such as noting that nickel was the most volatile while copper was the least. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the data. However, to reach a higher band, ensure that all data points mentioned are accurate; for instance, you mentioned copper reached a negative value in June, but the graph shows it remained slightly above zero. Additionally, ensure that all comparisons are precise to fully satisfy the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each metal, and a concluding summary. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Alternatively', and 'On the contrary' helps guide the reader through the information. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different metals. To improve, ensure that the transition between sentences is smoother; some sentences feel slightly disconnected. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the trends, such as 'volatile', 'fluctuations', 'plateauing', and 'marginal improvement'. These terms are appropriate for an Academic Task 1 response. There are a few minor issues with word choice, such as 'starting form' (a typo for 'from') and 'least among all the three metals' (which could be phrased more naturally). The vocabulary is generally precise enough to convey the intended meaning without difficulty.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the grammar is generally accurate and communication is not impeded, there are some minor errors, such as 'namely; copper' (incorrect punctuation) and 'reaching to negative' (missing a noun or adjective). You demonstrate good control over basic structures, but to achieve a higher band, you should aim for a wider variety of complex sentence forms and ensure that punctuation is used correctly throughout the text.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.