Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-29

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 8.0)

The line graph illustrates the average month-to-month percentage change in the prices of copper, nickel, and zinc during 2014.

Overall, nickel experienced the greatest fluctuations, with sharp rises at the beginning of the year and significant declines in the middle months. By contrast, copper showed the most stable trend, with only minor changes throughout the year. Zinc fluctuated moderately, ending the year with the strongest positive growth among the three metals.

At the start of the year, nickel recorded the highest monthly increase, at approximately 6% in January, before falling to 4% in February and then declining steadily to around 1% by March and May. In June, its price change dropped dramatically to about -3%, the lowest figure on the chart. It recovered slightly to around -1% between July and September, dipped again to -2% in October, and then rebounded to approximately 1% in November and 1.5% in December.

Copper was much more stable over the year. Its monthly price change declined gradually from about 2% in January to around 0.5% by April, before falling slightly below zero in May and June. From July to September, copper recovered to around 1%, slipped marginally in October, and finished the year at approximately 1.5%.

Zinc began with a 2% increase in January, rose to 3% in February, and then eased gradually to about 1% by May. It turned slightly negative in June, remained just below zero until October, and finally recovered strongly, ending the year at around 2% in December, the highest increase among the three metals.

This graph shows that while all three metals experienced declines around the middle of the year, nickel was by far the most volatile, whereas copper remained relatively stable throughout 2014.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The student provides a fully developed response that covers all parts of the task. The overview clearly identifies the main trends, highlighting nickel's high volatility, copper's stability, and zinc's strong finish. Data points are accurately cited from the chart, such as nickel starting at approximately 6% in January and dropping to -3% in June. Comparisons between the three metals are made effectively throughout the body paragraphs. The information is well-selected, and the response thoroughly fulfils the requirements of Academic Task 1.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The response is logically organised with a clear overarching structure. It begins with a helpful introduction, followed by a clear overview paragraph, three detailed body paragraphs examining each metal, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'By contrast', 'At the start of the year', and 'before falling' are used naturally and flexibly to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is logical, with each paragraph serving a distinct and appropriate function.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide and flexible lexical range suitable for describing statistical trends. Vocabulary items such as 'fluctuations', 'dramatically', 'rebounded', 'volatile', and 'marginally' are used accurately and with good awareness of collocation. Word choice is precise throughout, and there are no noticeable lexical errors or awkward phrasing, allowing for fluent reading and clear communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

The response employs a wide variety of complex sentence structures, including participial phrases ('before falling to 4%') and subordinate clauses ('while all three metals experienced declines'). The majority of sentences are completely error-free, and grammatical control is consistently strong. Control over punctuation and tense usage is excellent, reflecting a high level of grammatical accuracy appropriate for a Band 8 level.

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

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