Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-02

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 proportion change in average monthly prices of three different metals such as Copper, Nickle and zinc in 2014.

Overall, it is evident that Nickel and Zinc showed downward trend in price change over the given months, whereas Copper fluctuated throughout the period.

To begin with, Nickle accounted for 6 percent of price change in January, which then fell significantly to exactly 1 percent in March.This figure then declined sharply, and reached -3 percent before increasing slightly to -1 percent in July. This figure remained same for August and September, respectively. Thereafter, it fell shortly and levelled with the proportion of March, at 1 percent.

In contrast, the proportion of price change for Zinc increased from 1 percent in January to exactly 3 percent in Feburary, thereby it fell notably to -1 percent in June. It remained relatively stable until the month of october before recovering to around 2 percent in December. In addition, the change in prices for Copper fluctuated over the period, which declined gradually from 2 percent in January to around 0.8 percent in June. This figure then increased steadily to approximately 1.8 percent in December.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response covers all parts of the task by reporting the main features and trends of the three metals, placing the word count well above the minimum requirement. However, the overview contains inaccuracies; for instance, the student states that both Nickel and Zinc showed a 'downward trend in price change', which is factually incorrect since Zinc finished higher and experienced significant positive changes in several months. Furthermore, some data points are slightly imprecise or misinterpreted based on the visual data, and the generalisation lacks complete accuracy. To move to a higher band, the overview must accurately reflect the overall trajectory of all data series without mischaracterising upward movements as downward trends.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The writing displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear attempt to structure the response into logical paragraphs, including an introduction, an overview, and separate body paragraphs for the data. Cohesive devices are employed to guide the reader through the statistics, using connectors such as 'To begin with', 'Thereafter', and 'In contrast'. However, referencing and cohesion occasionally feel somewhat mechanical, and some transitions between sentences lack absolute smoothness. To achieve a higher level of coherence and cohesion, the progression of ideas could be enhanced by more sophisticated referencing and a tighter logical flow between the comparative details.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for the task, attempting less common items and descriptive verbs such as 'fluctuated', 'declined sharply', and 'recovering'. There are, however, some spelling and word-choice errors, such as 'Nickle' (spelling of nickel) and 'proportion change' instead of 'percentage change'. Minor lexical slips do not impede communication, but they restrict the score. To reach a higher band, the writer needs to demonstrate a more flexible and precise command of less common lexical items, eradicate spelling mistakes entirely, and ensure flawless collocation when discussing statistical changes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, with attempts to use subordinate clauses and comparative structures effectively. There are some grammatical and punctuation errors present, such as missing articles ('the month of october') and minor structural awkwardness like 'thereby it fell notably', but these errors rarely impede communication and do not obscure the intended meaning. To improve this criterion further, the writer should incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures with greater control, ensuring that punctuation and dependent clauses are handled with complete accuracy.

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