Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-18

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 7.0)

The line graph compares monthly variation in prices of copper, nickel and zinc in 2014 and is measured in percentage. Overall, it can be seen that the percentage change in the price of nickel was highest in January while in December, zinc witnessed more change in price than other metals.

In January, nickel witnessed the highest change in price at 6 percent. This was followed by copper at 2 percent. The percentage change in the price of nickel decreased over the following 2 months to 1 percent but still higher than that of copper at about 0.5 percent. The percentage change in price of nickel decreased gradually for the next two months before it fell sharply to a trough of -3 percent in june. Similarly, the percentage fluctuation in the price of copper decreased slowly reaching a low of -0.5 in May. Thereafter, it overtook that of nickel climbing to 1 percent in july and remaining stable at this for the next 2 months still higher than that if nickel. It finished in December at 1.5 percent while that of nickel finished at 1 percent, the lowest for the month.

The percentage change in the price of zinc at the beginning of the period was 1 percent which was the lowest for the month. This rose to a high of 3 in February before decreasing gradually over the following four months to -4 percent. It remained relatively stable at this level for the next four months before it rose sharply to finish at 2 percent in December, being the highest for the month.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You provide a clear overview by identifying nickel’s January peak and zinc’s stronger December finish, and you report several key movements with relevant figures. The account of nickel’s fall to -3% in June and copper’s recovery to 1% in July is broadly accurate. However, there is a significant misreading in the zinc description: it falls to about -1% in June, not -4%, and then stays around -0.5% to -1% through October. This makes the later claim that zinc remained at -4% for four months inaccurate. Some comparisons are also less fully developed; for example, the metals’ contrasting mid-year lows could be summarised more clearly. The overview and coverage are relevant, but accuracy and fuller selection of key comparisons need strengthening.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is organised into an introduction, an overview and two body paragraphs, with a generally logical progression from the start of the year to the end. Sequencing expressions such as “Thereafter” and “before” help show changes over time, and the separate paragraph on zinc makes the series easy to follow. At times, however, the account becomes a sequence of monthly details rather than a clearly prioritised comparison of the three metals. The repeated phrase “The percentage change in the price of…” also makes the linking feel somewhat mechanical. In addition, “still higher than that if nickel” appears to disrupt the intended comparison. Grouping the metals’ shared mid-year decline and contrasting recoveries would create smoother progression and clearer cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

You use a good range of task-appropriate language, including “monthly variation,” “decreased gradually,” “fell sharply,” “trough,” “overtook,” and “remained relatively stable.” These choices allow you to describe both direction and degree of change, and the meaning is generally clear. There are occasional imprecise or awkward expressions: “measured in percentage” is less natural than “expressed as a percentage,” while “witnessed more change in price” is vague for describing the December comparison. “Percentage fluctuation” is understandable but less precise than “monthly price change.” The phrase “a high of 3” would also be clearer with the unit included. More consistent, precise collocations would make the vocabulary more flexible and natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

You demonstrate a useful mix of sentence forms, including complex clauses such as “The percentage change… decreased over the following 2 months… but still higher than that of copper” and time clauses beginning “before.” Many sentences are controlled and easy to understand. A few errors remain in sentence construction and punctuation. In “but still higher than that of copper,” the comparison is left as a fragment; it would be clearer as “although it was still higher than copper’s.” The opening has an extra space after “that,” and “in june” and “in july” need capital letters for the month names. The sentence beginning “Thereafter” also becomes long and would benefit from clearer punctuation or division. Greater consistency in complete clauses and editing would improve accuracy.

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