Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-19

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 shows the average monthly changes in the prices of copper, nickel and zinc in 2014. The changes are compared with the previous month.

In January, the price of nickel increased by 6 percent, which was the highest figure on the graph. It then fell to 4 percent in February and 1 percent in March and April. In June, nickel had a large decrease of 3 percent.From July to September, it stayed at about -1 percent, and then fell to -2 percent in October. However, it increased again to 1 percent in November and December.

Copper started at 2 percent in January and went down to about 1 percent in February. It was around 0.5 percent in March and April. In May and June, it was negative, at about -0.5 percent. From July to September, copper was 1 percent. It fell slightly to 0.5 percent in October and then increased to 1.5 percent in December.

Zinc increased from 1 percent in January to 3percent in February. After that, it gradually decreased and reached -1percent in June. It stayed around -0.5 percent from July to September, before falling to -1 percent in October. Finally, it rose strongly to 1.5 percent in November and 2 percent in December.

Overall, nickel had the biggest changes during the year. Copper was more stable, while zinc also had some changes but they were not very high.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student successfully covers all three metals depicted in the graph, presenting key trends and figures across the year. The response is well-structured around the visual data, accurately reporting notable peaks and troughs such as nickel's surge to 6 percent in January and its subsequent drop to -3 percent in June. Copper's relative stability and zinc's distinct trajectory are also clearly highlighted. The overview paragraph at the end effectively summarises the main trends without introducing unnecessary data, aligning well with the requirements for a Band 7.0 or higher.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph is dedicated to a specific metal, making the information very easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'In January', 'It then fell', 'After that', and 'Overall' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is logical and well-managed, contributing to a coherent overall arrangement. Although referencing is occasionally repetitive, the overall flow meets the criteria for Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary suitable for an academic task, including terms like 'average monthly changes', 'percentage', 'peak', 'decrease', and 'stable'. While most word choices are accurate, the vocabulary lacks some of the more sophisticated lexical items and precise collocation expected at higher bands, such as 'fluctuate considerably' or 'experienced a downward trend'. Spelling and word choice are accurate throughout, supporting clear communication and fitting the Band 6.5 or 7.0 descriptor well.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses ('which was the highest figure on the graph') and temporal adverbial clauses. Grammatical accuracy is generally high, with frequent error-free sentences and good control over past tense verb forms needed for reporting data from 2014. Punctuation is accurate, and while the range of complex structures could be slightly broader to reach the highest bands, the current control comfortably justifies a Band 7.0.

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

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