Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-19

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 monthly change in the cost of three metals including zinc, copper and nickel in the year 2014. Overall, the period from May to July was considered cheap to buy such metals. Whereas, at the start of the year, the prices were sky rocketed to its annual maximum point.

Talking about the copper, it is the most stable metal in terms of the prices across the year. The maximum price point hits in the month of January, then follows a decline till June and recovers its initial price bracket till the end of the year. Whereas, the nickel has observed the most fluctutation in its graph. A dramatic decline to its minimum, has been observed from January to June and then undergo a steady incline to recover the actual price. On the contrary, a slow incline has been experienced during the first month, by zinc and then a sharp decline takes place till the month of June. After that, a steady recovery trajectory has been observed that grows until the end of an year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the three metals and give a broad account of their movements, including nickel’s pronounced fall and the recovery towards year-end. However, the overview is not fully accurate: May to July was not simply a period when metals were “cheap to buy”; the graph shows monthly percentage changes, not absolute prices, and the metals do not all reach their lowest point in that period. The claim that prices “sky rocketed” at the start also overstates the pattern, although nickel does begin at a high positive change. Some key comparisons are missing, such as nickel’s sharpest fall in June and the metals’ positive changes in November and December. Focus on percentage changes and report the main peaks, troughs and contrasts more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall shape: an introduction and overview are followed by descriptions of copper, nickel and zinc. This makes the information easy to follow, and phrases such as “On the contrary” signal a shift between metals. The progression is generally logical, but the repeated “Whereas” and “After that” transitions sometimes feel mechanical, and “Whereas” is used as a sentence opener without a balanced contrast. The overview also moves quickly from a general claim to details without clearly grouping the shared mid-year decline and year-end recovery. To strengthen the organisation, present the overview first, then compare the metals’ movements in stages, using linking phrases only where they clarify a real relationship.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonably varied range, including “dramatic decline,” “steady incline” and “recovery trajectory,” and the meaning is generally understandable. There are, however, several imprecise or unnatural choices for describing a graph. “Cheap to buy” refers to the absolute cost of the metals, whereas the chart shows monthly percentage changes; “price point hits” and “recover the actual price” are also unclear. “Sky rocketed” exaggerates the data, and “fluctutation” is misspelled. Aim for precise chart language such as “monthly change,” “fell to a low,” and “rose again.” This would retain your range while improving accuracy and natural collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of sentence forms, including longer clauses linked with “then” and “after that,” and the main ideas can usually be understood. However, some sentence structures and verb forms are faulty. For example, “A dramatic decline to its minimum, has been observed … and then undergo a steady incline” shifts from a passive construction to an uninflected verb; “the prices were sky rocketed” also uses an incorrect passive form. There are agreement and article problems in “the prices … its annual maximum point” and “the end of an year.” Punctuation is also awkward in “A dramatic decline to its minimum, has been observed.” Practise keeping tense and voice consistent, and check agreement and articles when revising.

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