Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-12

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 given bar graph illustrates the average monthly changes in the prices of three metals in the year 2014.

Overall, the change in the price of nickel was the highest in january, whereas by the end it was at the bottom. The change in the price of all the three metals fluctuated in the whole year.

It is apparent that in 2014, the change in the average monthly price of nickel was 6% in january, which was the highest among the given categories and 4% higher than the price of copper. The figure for nickel declined significantly and reached 1% in the month of april. After that, it fluctuated for 6 months starting from march till october to reach -2%. By the end it again rose and reached to 1%.Similarly, the price of copper declined to -1.5% in march and it then remained same in the next month. It marginally increased to 1% for 3 months and then it declined again. The figure rose and reached to 1.5% in the end of the year 2014.

In january, 1% change was observed in the price of zinc. The figure for zinc rose to 3% in february and then it showed fluctuations to reach 1.5% in november, and after that rose to 2% in december.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main contrast between nickel’s high starting point and its decline, and you report several relevant figures, including nickel at 6% in January and copper at 1.5% in December. However, some key details are inaccurate: copper falls to about -0.5% in May and June, not -1.5% in March, and nickel reaches its low of about -3% in June before recovering, rather than simply fluctuating from March to October. The overview also says nickel was “at the bottom” at year-end, although it finishes at about 1%, alongside copper and below zinc. The account of zinc is comparatively brief. A more accurate overview and clearer selection of the metals’ mid-year lows and year-end positions would make the response more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and two detail paragraphs. Grouping nickel and copper together before describing zinc is a sensible way to organise the information, and phrases such as “Overall,” “Similarly,” and “By the end” help signal relationships. However, some sequencing is confusing. The claim that nickel fluctuated “for 6 months starting from march till october” is difficult to follow and does not match the chart’s sequence, while “After that” obscures the sharp June fall. The final paragraph gives zinc’s figures but does not compare its pattern with the other metals. Use more precise time markers and connect comparisons directly to the relevant data to create smoother progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “declined significantly,” “marginally increased,” “fluctuations,” and “reached,” which allows you to describe movement and change. Some wording is repetitive, particularly repeated uses of “the figure” and “reached,” and a few choices are imprecise for a line graph: “bar graph” misidentifies the visual, while “price … was 6%” can suggest a price level rather than a monthly percentage change. There are also spelling and form issues in month names, such as “january” and “february.” Aim for more precise terms such as “monthly percentage change” and vary verbs for rises and falls while keeping the meaning exact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including clauses with “whereas,” “which,” and “after that,” and most of the meaning remains clear. Some grammatical and punctuation errors are present. For example, “reached to 1%” uses an unnecessary preposition, and “it then remained same” is missing an article. The sentence beginning “After that” has an unclear time reference, and there is no space after the full stop in “1%.Similarly”. Capitalisation of month names is also inconsistent. Review articles and prepositions, and check sentence boundaries and punctuation. More consistently controlled complex sentences would help you express comparisons and changes with greater precision.

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