Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-09

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 6.5)

The line graph describes the percentage change in the prices of copper, nickel, and zinc compared with the previous month during the year 2014.

Overall, a significant drop in the prices of all three metals is recorded over the period of the entire year, as nickel experienced a huge decline with large fluctuations, while copper showed a consistent growth during the entire year of 2014.

In January, a 6% growth is recorded in the price of the nickel, which plummeted noticeably to 1% in the month of March. After that, it remained constant before dropping to about -3% in the month of June. Then it surged to 1% in the month of November till it remained constant at the end of the year.

About 2% and 1% are recorded at the start of the year for copper and zinc, respectively. This percentage fluctuated drastically as the prices of copper decreased to below 0%, while zinc showed a sudden growth in its price initially, then it decreased to about -1% in the month of June. Afterwards, the prices for both metals remained consistent till October. Then a sudden rise is shown in the price of zinc, making it at the top as compared to other two metals at the end of the year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the graph’s subject and include relevant figures, such as nickel’s 6% start, its fall to about -3% in June, and the metals’ recovery towards year-end. However, the overview is not accurate enough: it says all three prices recorded a significant overall drop and that copper grew consistently, whereas copper fluctuated around zero and ended higher than it began, while zinc also recovered. Some details are imprecise or misleading: copper did not show consistent growth, and the metals did not all remain stable through October. The response therefore reports selected information but only partially captures the main trends and comparisons. Make the overview reflect the actual contrasting patterns, then support it with accurate month-by-month comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing nickel and then copper and zinc. This makes the information easy to follow, and sequencing phrases such as “After that,” “Then,” and “Afterwards” help show changes over time. The organisation is coherent, though some links are mechanical and a few references are unclear. For example, “This percentage fluctuated drastically” does not clearly identify whether it refers to copper, zinc, or both, and “Then it surged” requires the reader to infer that “it” means nickel. Use more precise subject references and group comparisons around shared movements, while retaining the clear paragraph structure.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

You use a suitable range of vocabulary for describing a line graph, including “plummeted,” “surged,” “fluctuated,” and “remained constant.” These choices show some flexibility and help convey changes in direction and scale. There are occasional problems with precision and collocation: “a huge decline” is less exact than describing the sharp fall in nickel’s monthly change, while “making it at the top” is awkward and unclear. “Consistent growth” also misrepresents copper’s fluctuating pattern. Choose terms that distinguish a change in monthly percentage from a change in the metal’s overall price, and use natural comparative phrasing such as “ended at the highest rate.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex forms, including subordinate clauses such as “while copper showed…” and time clauses beginning “After that” and “Then.” Most sentences communicate the intended sequence, and punctuation generally supports readability. Some grammatical choices are less controlled, particularly the passive constructions “a 6% growth is recorded” and “About 2% and 1% are recorded,” which sound unnatural when reporting past data; use past-tense forms such as “Nickel rose by 6%” and “Copper and zinc stood at…” The phrase “Then it surged to 1% in the month of November till it remained constant” also combines time relationships awkwardly. More consistent past-tense reporting and clearer sentence boundaries would improve accuracy.

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