Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-07

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 the prices of three different metals during 2014.

Overall, it is clear that the price of the nickel was highest at the beginning and lowest at the end, while the price of copper decreased intially, remained constant for a while and then increased. However, the price of the zinc was highest at the end as compared to nickel and copper.

In January, the price of nickel stood at 6%. Then it fell gradually to 1%, before declining dramtically to -3% in june. After that, it reached to 1% in december. Whereas the value of zinc increased slightly from 1% to 3% in february. It plummeted to -1% in june and remained stable until october. In december, it reached at its highest point which was 2%.

In contrast, initially the value of copper went down from 2% to just under 0%. Afterwards it went up and remained stable. Finally, it ended at approximately 1% in december.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all three metals and identifies key trends. However, the overview is slightly inaccurate; for instance, stating nickel was 'lowest at the end' is incorrect as it reached 1% in December, while other points were lower earlier in the year. Additionally, the description of copper is vague ('remained constant for a while'). To reach a higher band, ensure that the overview highlights the most significant trends (e.g., the overall volatility of nickel versus the relative stability of copper) and that data points are reported with greater precision to avoid factual errors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'In January', 'Then', 'After that', and 'In contrast' are used to guide the reader through the data. However, the progression within the second body paragraph is slightly disjointed, and the referencing is occasionally mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different metals, which helps the overall flow. To improve, try to vary the cohesive devices to create a more natural, less repetitive transition between sentences.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'plummeted', 'dramatically', and 'fluctuated' (implied). There are some minor spelling errors ('intially', 'dramtically', 'june', 'december') and some awkward phrasing, such as 'reached at its highest point' (should be 'reached its highest point'). The range is sufficient to convey the main features of the graph, but it lacks the sophistication and precision required for a higher band. Focusing on accurate collocations and avoiding basic spelling mistakes will help improve this score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'the price of the nickel' (unnecessary article), 'it reached to 1%' (incorrect preposition), and 'the value of zinc' (inconsistent terminology). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the frequent minor errors in preposition usage and article placement prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Increasing the frequency of error-free complex sentences would significantly enhance the grammatical profile of the writing.

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