Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-30

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)

From the line graph,we can see the average monthly rise or fall in how much copper, nickel and zinc cost thoughout 2014.

Overall, nickel started with the highest percentage change oh the three but ended with the lowest.Zinc started with the smallest change and ended with the highest, and copper prices fluctusted. Prices for all three metals dipped in june.

In January the price of nickel was up six percent, but this dropped to negative three percent in june, ending the year with a one percent increased in both november and december. copper began the year with an increase of two percent and by may, the price was dropping (by slightly less than on percent). It rose again, increasing by a percentage point in july, august and september. Zinc saw its most dramatic increase in february.With three percent and the price fell in june a one percent decrease . The change was negative until october/ november when it began to rise.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The student covers all parts of the prompt by summarising the main features of the line graph and making relevant comparisons across the three metals. The overview captures key general trends, such as nickel starting high and finishing low, and notes the shared dip in June. Specific data points are generally accurate, reflecting the visual data well (e.g., nickel starting at six percent and copper dipping in May). However, some minor details are slightly imprecise, and paragraphing is underdeveloped, which limits the score to a Band 6.5. To reach a higher band, the overview should be more distinctly separated and the data comparison more systematically organized.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a coherent overall arrangement, successfully conveying the main trends from beginning to end. However, paragraphing is poorly handled, with the overview crammed into the introductory sentence and the body of the text lumped into a single block. Cohesive devices are basic and sometimes mechanical. Referencing is mostly clear, but the lack of distinct paragraphs hinders logical progression. To improve, the student must divide the response into clear paragraphs, dedicating one to the introduction and overview, and subsequent paragraphs to detailed body comparisons with appropriate linking devices.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms like 'percentage change', 'fluctuated', 'dramatic increase', and 'dip'. There are some word-choice and spelling errors ('oh' instead of 'of', 'fluctusted', 'increased' instead of 'increase'). While less common vocabulary is attempted, errors in form occasionally surface. The range is sufficient to communicate the main features clearly, but greater precision and correct morphological forms are needed for a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some control over structure. There are several grammatical and punctuation errors throughout, such as missing capitalisation at the beginning of sentences ('we', 'copper', 'zinc'), missing articles, and awkward phrasing ('With three percent and the price fell in june a one percent decrease'). Despite these errors, communication is not severely impeded, and meaning remains understandable. To achieve a higher band, the student needs to eliminate basic punctuation slips and increase the proportion of error-free complex sentences.

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

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