Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-20

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 bar chart compares the average monthly changes in the prices of three different metals—copper, nickel and zinc—in 2014.

Overall, the price of copper fluctuated throughout the period, while the price of nickel declined significantly. The price of zinc also fluctuated during the year, although it ended the period at a higher level than it began.

In January, the price of copper decreased slightly and reached -0.5% in May and again in July. After that, it fluctuated over the following six months and recorded a change of 1.5% at the end of December. The price of zinc increased by 3% in the first month, but after February it declined. It reached -1% in June and October before rising to 2% at the end of the year.

Nickel recorded a change of more than 6% at the beginning of the year. During the first six months, the figure fell to -3%. In June, it rose slightly to -1% and then remained at a similar level until the end of September. By the end of the year, the figure had risen to approximately 1%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The student covers all three metals and attempts to report overall trends and specific data points, meeting the core requirements of Task 1. However, there is a major data misinterpretation: the student states that the chart is a bar chart, whereas it is clearly a line graph. Furthermore, several figures are inaccurate when checked against the visual data. For instance, the student states that copper decreased slightly in January (which was actually an increase of 2%), and misreads nickel's starting point and trajectory. While an overview is present, the inaccurate reporting of key data points pulls the score down into the mid-range because the response fails to accurately reflect the visual information provided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is structured into four distinct paragraphs, beginning with an introduction, followed by an overall summary, and separate body paragraphs for the metal trends. There is a logical flow, and basic cohesive devices are used to guide the reader through the data (e.g., 'Overall', 'In January', 'After that'). However, referencing and transitions are sometimes mechanical or fail to reflect the actual data progression accurately. Paragraphing is adequate, but the lack of precise logical relationships between sentences regarding data shifts limits the effectiveness of cohesion. Overall arrangement is coherent, but the execution of cohesive elements contains some awkwardness.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range suitable for describing statistical trends and changes, using terms like 'fluctuated', 'declined significantly', 'increased', and 'reached'. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary, though some word choices are imprecise or factually mismatched with the data (e.g., referring to a line graph as a 'bar chart'). Spelling is accurate, and word choice errors do not impede general communication, but the range remains somewhat basic and repetitive rather than flexible or sophisticated.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'The price of copper fluctuated throughout the period, while the price of nickel declined significantly.' There are several error-free sentences, and grammatical control over past tense narrative structures for the 2014 data is generally good. Errors in grammar and punctuation are infrequent and do not impede communication. However, the range of complex structures is somewhat limited, preventing the response from reaching a higher band. Control over basic and moderately complex sentences is clear.

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