Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-11

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 chart illustrates the monthly percentage change in prices of copper, nickel and zinc throughout the year 2014. Overall, the three metals experienced a noticeable fluctuations with a general decline in the first half of the year followed by a gradual recovery towards December.

At the beginning of the year, Zinc shows a significant increase of about 2 percent, while nickel and copper show a modest decline of about 2 percent and 1 percent respectively. However, from February onwards, the prices of all three metals begins to fall steadily. By June, nickel reaches a lowest bottom of around -3 percent, and both copper and zinc also dropped below zero, which shows a overall negative growth in the prices.

After mid year, all three metals trends reversed and psoing a gradual improvement from July to December. Although the recovery was not dramatic, each metal ended with a small positive changes, generally between 1 and 2 percent.

In summary, the graph highlights early growth, a mid year decline and slow recovery across all three materials.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You provide an overview and identify the broad movement from decline to recovery, but several key details do not match the graph, which limits how fully the task is addressed. In January, zinc rose by about 1%, copper by 2%, and nickel by 6%; the claim that nickel and copper declined is inaccurate. The metals also did not all fall steadily from February: copper stayed around 0.5% through April, while zinc declined from its February peak. Your account of nickel reaching about -3% in June and the metals ending in positive territory is broadly accurate. To strengthen the report, select the most important contrasts and describe each series more precisely, rather than relying on general statements such as “all three metals” following the same pattern.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction and overview, followed by the early-year pattern, the later recovery, and a concluding summary. Time markers such as “At the beginning of the year,” “By June,” and “After mid year” help readers follow the sequence. This coherent progression meets the core expectations at this level, and the paragraphing is appropriate. However, some links between ideas are weakened by inaccurate generalisations—for example, “from February onwards” suggests all three series fell steadily, although copper remained nearly stable for several months. The final “In summary” repeats the overview rather than adding a useful comparison. Improve cohesion by grouping details by metal or by contrasting their different movements, and use transitions to show those contrasts clearly.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a suitable range of graph-related vocabulary, including “percentage change,” “decline,” “recovery,” and “reversed,” so the main trends are generally understandable. However, several noticeable word-choice, collocation, and word-form problems reduce precision. “A noticeable fluctuations” is not a natural phrase, “lowest bottom” is redundant, and “negative growth in the prices” is less accurate than describing negative monthly changes. The spelling error “psoing” also interrupts the reader, while “small positive changes” is awkward when referring to each metal’s final monthly figure. Aim for concise, conventional language for describing data and check spelling and collocations carefully. More precise terms would help distinguish a rise, a fall, and a change in the rate of change.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast clause beginning “Although the recovery was not dramatic,” and most of the meaning remains clear. However, errors occur in several sentence patterns and sometimes make the descriptions less controlled. For example, “the three metals experienced a noticeable fluctuations” has a number-agreement problem, and “the prices of all three metals begins” has subject–verb disagreement. In “each metal ended with a small positive changes,” the singular subject does not agree with the plural noun. There are also inconsistent present and past forms when describing 2014, such as “Zinc shows” and “nickel reaches” alongside “dropped.” Use past tense consistently and check agreement, articles, and singular/plural forms when revising.

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