Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-22

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 7.0)

The line graph illustrates the average monthly change in prices of copper, nickel and zinc throughout the year 2014.

Overall, it is clear that the graph shows fluctuation in their prices. Nickel and zinc decreased dramatically over the period as compared to copper which remained moderate

Additionally, nickel exhibited the highest level of volatility. In January, nickel started at a high of 6%, significantly outperforming copper at 2% and zinc at 1%. However, nickel’s figure dropped dramatically, plunging to a low of -3% by June. In contrast, zinc saw a brief climb to 3% in February.

From March to May, all three commodities underwent a gradual decline, followed by a brief period of stabilization until September. During the final quarter, recovery trends were visible. From October onwards, nickel climbed from -2% to finish at 1% in December. Similarly, zinc rose from -1% to end at 2%. Meanwhile, copper prices experienced less dramatic shifts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features of the line graph for copper, nickel, and zinc in 2014 and making relevant comparisons. The overview captures the general trends, noting that nickel and zinc experienced significant fluctuations compared to the more moderate path of copper. Key data points are accurately cited, such as nickel starting at 6% in January and dropping to -3% in June, and zinc climbing to 3% in February. However, the overview is slightly flawed in stating that nickel and zinc 'decreased dramatically over the period as compared to copper', as both finished the year recovering positively. This minor over-generalization prevents a higher score, but the response overall covers the data well and presents a clear overview.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introductory paragraph containing the background and overview, followed by body paragraphs that detail specific timeframes and data trends. Cohesive devices are used effectively to guide the reader through the data (e.g., 'In January', 'However', 'In contrast', 'From March to May', 'Meanwhile'). Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, specific comparative features, and subsequent chronological developments. Referencing is clear, and the overall arrangement ensures that information is easy to follow, supporting a solid Band 7 performance.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates an adequate to sufficient range of vocabulary suitable for an academic task, incorporating terms such as 'fluctuation', 'volatility', 'outperforming', 'plunging', 'stabilization', and 'recovery trends'. There are attempts to use less common lexical items with reasonable success, such as 'exhibited the highest level of volatility' and 'underwent a gradual decline'. Word choice is generally appropriate, and spelling is accurate throughout. While the vocabulary is not expansive enough to reach Band 8, it provides enough precision and flexibility for a solid Band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, demonstrating control over grammatical forms. Examples of complex structures include 'As compared to copper which remained moderate' and 'From October onwards, nickel climbed from -2% to finish at 1% in December.' Punctuation is generally accurate, and grammatical errors are minimal. However, there is a minor punctuation omission in the first paragraph where the final sentence lacks a full stop ('...remained moderate'). Despite this minor slip, the majority of sentences are error-free, warranting a strong Band 7 score.

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