Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-01
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 line graph illustrates the average monthly change in the prices of three metals during 2014.
Overall, there are three types of metals: copper, nickel, and zinc. It is evident that, nickel witnessed a significant decline, followed by zinc, and copper.
To begin with, Nickel experienced a drastic drop in June 2014, then rose slightly in July, remaining stable until September, although experiencing a decline trend in the following month. However, nickel prices showed a dramatic growth from November to December.
On the other hand, zinc was at its highest price in February. Nevertheless, it experienced a drastic price decline in June, similar to nickel, before rising again in the following months until December. Finally, copper did not witnessed a substantial price increase or decrease. In addition, it showed a price drop of 0.5% in April to -1.5% in May. However, copper rose again in price in the following month and remained stable.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response addresses all parts of the task by reporting data for all three metals, but some features are under-developed or inaccurately described. The overview is weak, simply listing the three metals rather than summarising the main trends. Furthermore, several descriptions of the data are factually incorrect or confused; for instance, the text claims zinc was at its highest price in February and that copper dropped from 0.5% in April to -1.5% in May, which misreads the provided graph where copper actually sat at 0.5% in April and -0.5% in May. While key data points are attempted, the confusion between absolute price levels and percentage changes, along with inaccurate data extraction, keeps the task achievement at this level.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The essay has a coherent overall arrangement with clear paragraphing, dividing the introduction, overview, and body paragraphs by metal. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'On the other hand', and 'Finally' are used to structure the text, though referencing is sometimes mechanical. For example, the transition from discussing nickel to zinc works adequately, but the logical progression within paragraphs occasionally falters due to abrupt shifts between months and trends. To reach a higher band, the student should ensure smoother transitions between sentences and maintain a clearer overarching logical progression.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, with attempts at less common lexical items such as 'drastic drop', 'substantial price increase', and 'remained stable'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'decline trend' instead of 'downward trend', and a grammatical slip in word form with 'did not witnessed'. These errors do not impede communication, but they reflect a typical profile where vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic message yet lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some control over basic structures. However, there are frequent errors in grammar, such as the tense error 'did not witnessed' instead of 'did not witness', and occasional awkward phrasing in complex clauses. Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the persistence of grammatical errors in verb forms and tense consistency means that structures are often faulty when complexity is attempted. To improve, the student needs to ensure greater accuracy in verb agreements and past tense formations.
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