Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-13
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 6.5)
The graph below depicts the changes in price compared with the previous month of three metals - copper, nickel and gold - in the year 2014.
Regarding copper, the graphs shows an initial decline in change in price compared to the previous month from 2% in January 2014 to 1% in price in February 2014. Percentage change in price remains stable through March and April 2014 at 0.5%. A decline is observed from April to June 2014, with an increase from June to July 2014. Furthermore, July to September remains stable followed by a slight decline observed from September to November 2014, with a increase of 1% in December 2014.
Nickel price experiences the largest decline of all metals. From January to June 2014, we see a significant decline in price, with the graph showing a decrease from 6 % to -3%. From June to September 2014, an increase of 2% is noted, followed by a decrease of 1% in October 2014. Price then increases 3 % to end the year in November and December 2014.
Finally, zinc price increases 2% in February 2014 with a decline of 4% over the course of 4 months. Prices stabilize from July to September 2014. Prices increase a further 3% at the end of the year in December 2014.
Overall, all metal end the year between a 1 and 2% change compared to their previous month.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response successfully addresses the main features of the graph, outlining trends for copper, nickel, and zinc throughout 2014, and includes comparisons between the metals. However, there is a minor data inaccuracy in the introduction where the student refers to 'gold' instead of 'zinc'. Despite this slip, the overview at the end captures the general trend appropriately, and the key fluctuations of each metal are reported with sufficient detail to satisfy the requirements of Task 1. The response presents an overall clear summary of the provided data.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The text is logically organised into paragraphs, with each paragraph dedicated to a specific metal, followed by a concluding summary. Cohesive devices such as 'Regarding copper', 'Furthermore', and 'Finally' are used to structure the response effectively. Progression is generally clear throughout the text, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately to group related information together, and referencing is mostly clear, contributing to an overall coherent arrangement that guides the reader successfully.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, demonstrating terms such as 'decline', 'fluctuations', 'stable', and 'significant'. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary like 'stabilize' and 'previous month'. However, there are a few notable lexical inaccuracies and slips, such as referring to 'gold' in the introduction instead of 'zinc', and slight awkwardness in phrasing such as 'an increase of 1% in December 2014' combined with minor prepositional choices. Overall, the lexical range is sufficient to convey the main points without impeding communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The writer demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including subordinate clauses and temporal phrases. There is good control over basic grammatical forms, and punctuation is generally handled correctly. However, a few grammatical errors are present, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('all metal end the year') and missing articles or pluralisation slips ('Nickel price experiences'). These errors do not impede communication, and the majority of sentences remain clear, placing the response solidly in the band 6 category.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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