Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-11

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 given line chart illustrates information in 2014, about the average changes in the charges in comparison with the previous month of three different metallic elements.

Overall, copper was the metal with the most stable pattern compared with others, while nickel experienced significant changes over the months.

In January, copper saw a 2% price change, compared with 6% for nickel. By contrast, zinc had the smallest change, at just over 1%. By the end of the month, copper had declined to about 1%, while nickel had fallen dramatically to just over 4% and zinc to 2%. In March, copper had decreased to over 0.5%, while nickel had more than halved to about 1% and zinc had dropped to 2%. In April, copper and nickel did not face any changes, while zinc had decreased to just over 1.5%. After that, all three metals fell steadily, copper to just below -0.5%, nickel to over 0.5%, and zinc to 1.5%. In June, nickel and zinc had fallen significantly to over -3% and -1% respectively, while copper remained unchanged.

In July, the three metals rose, with nickel increasing sharply to -1%, copper to 1%, and zinc to about -0.5%. By contrast, all three metals did not face any changes until September. In October, nickel fell sharply to just about -2%, zinc to -1%, and copper to over 0.5%. By the end of the month, nickel and zinc increased dramatically to over 1% and 1.5% respectively, while copper remained unchanged. In December, nickel did not face any changes, while zinc grew to 2%, and copper to about 1.3%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have successfully identified the main features of the graph and provided relevant comparisons. You covered all three metals and tracked their trends throughout the year. However, the report is overly descriptive, listing data points month-by-month rather than grouping information to highlight key trends or significant fluctuations. To improve, focus on synthesizing the data—for example, noting that nickel showed the most volatility while copper remained relatively stable. The inclusion of specific figures is good, but ensure these are used to support a clear overview rather than just listing them sequentially, which can make the response feel like a data dump rather than a summary.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices such as 'By contrast,' 'After that,' and 'In July,' which help guide the reader. However, the transition between months is sometimes repetitive, relying heavily on time markers. The paragraphing is functional, but the second body paragraph is quite long and could have been split to better separate the different time periods or trends. Improving the variety of linking phrases and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would enhance the flow and cohesion of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'declined,' 'fallen dramatically,' 'increased sharply,' and 'remained unchanged.' There is some attempt to use less common vocabulary, though some word choices are slightly awkward, such as 'charges' instead of 'prices' or 'metallic elements' instead of simply 'metals.' The repetition of 'did not face any changes' is a bit mechanical. To reach a higher band, try to vary your verbs and nouns further and ensure that collocations are natural. Overall, your vocabulary is adequate for the task and does not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, and your meaning is generally clear. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'illustrates information in 2014, about the average changes,' where the comma is unnecessary. Additionally, some phrasing is slightly clunky, such as 'the three metals rose, with nickel increasing sharply to -1%.' While you show control over basic grammar, the range of complex structures is somewhat limited. To improve, focus on reducing minor punctuation errors and experimenting with more sophisticated sentence patterns to connect your ideas more fluidly.

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

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