Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-06

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 average monthly change in the prices of three metals named -copper, nickel, and zinc in 2014.

Overall, nickel showed fluctuation having the highest price in the beginning and lowest price at the end. Meanwhile, copper remained second most expensive metal throughout the time period. In contrast, zinc declined before going up.

In January, nickel demonstrated the highest of 6%, following 2% copper stood on second and only 1% by zinc. By february, zinc increased noticeably 3% , then, reduced slightly for each month till June, reaching its lowest -1% and remained steady for next four months. After this point, it jumped substantially, reaching 2% in December.

Meanwhile, Copper hovered around 1%, starting from 2% in January, declined slightly below 0 in June before a recover in July, after July, it remained steady and finished off at above 1 percent.

In the first half of the period, nickel experienced a sharp drop, starting at 6% and ending at -3, In July, grew -2% and remained same three month. during October it increased sharply, reaching at 1%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all parts of the task by identifying the main features and trends for all three metals. You successfully provided an overview and supported it with specific data points. However, the description of the data is occasionally imprecise. For example, stating that nickel had the 'highest price' is inaccurate; the graph shows the 'average monthly change' in price, not the price itself. Additionally, some data points are slightly misread or confusingly phrased, such as 'grew -2%'. To improve, ensure you clearly distinguish between the value of the change and the direction of the trend, and always refer to the specific metric provided in the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices like 'Meanwhile', 'In contrast', and 'After this point' to link ideas. However, the progression of information is sometimes disjointed. The transition between the overview and the body paragraphs could be smoother, and some sentences feel like a list of data points rather than a cohesive analysis. The use of referencing is generally clear, but the paragraphing could be more balanced to ensure a better flow of information throughout the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the main trends, using terms like 'fluctuation', 'declined', 'remained steady', and 'jumped substantially'. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'recover' (should be 'recovery') and 'named -copper' (unnecessary punctuation). While you attempt to use some less common vocabulary, the phrasing is occasionally awkward or imprecise. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations for describing trends and ensure that your terminology accurately reflects the data presented in the graph.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with prepositions, articles, and verb forms (e.g., 'following 2% copper stood on second', 'reaching at 1%'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some run-on sentences and misused commas. These errors do not impede communication, but they are noticeable. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions when describing numerical changes and time periods.

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

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