Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-21

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 breaks down (in percentages) the monthly changes in the prices of three different metals (namely copper, nickel and zinc ) in the year 2014.

Overall, the trends of all these metals experienced a fall initially. Nevertheless, the proportions of nickel reached their lowest value in june; in addition, the proportions of copper bottomed out its value in june. However, zinc witnessed a slight upward trend yet it reached its lowest value; it showed an upward trend.

Initially, the proportions of nickel was about 6 per cent. It experienced a decline and bottomed out its value in the month june ( it fall from 6 per cent to -3%) later it showed an upward trend by the end of the year and rose from -3% to 1%.

In the beginning, the proportions of zinc was about 1%. By the month february it witnessed an upward trend and rose from 1 per cent to 3%. However it decline by the month june ( it fall from 3% to -1%); by the end of the year it increased from -1% to 2%

Initially, the proportions of copper was about 2%. It reached its lowest value in the month june ( fall from 2% to just over -1%); however, by the end of the year it rose from just over -1% to just under its initially value.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the three metals and give an overview that recognises the general decline and the June lows, then describe each series with relevant figures. The nickel account is particularly clear: it falls from about 6% to -3% in June and ends at 1%. However, the overview is partly unclear and not fully accurate: copper’s lowest point is in May and June, rather than June alone, and zinc does not show a steady upward trend overall. The copper description also misstates its low as “just over -1%”; the graph places it at about -0.5%. To strengthen the response, summarise the contrasting patterns more precisely, including the metals’ recovery late in the year and copper’s relatively small fluctuations.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction and overview are followed by separate paragraphs for nickel, zinc and copper. This makes the information easy to locate, and sequencing expressions such as “Initially,” “By the month” and “by the end of the year” help show changes over time. Cohesion is sometimes mechanical, however, because several paragraphs repeat the same opening pattern and rely heavily on “However” and “it.” Some references are also unclear, as in “it reached its lowest value; it showed an upward trend,” where the subject and relationship between the ideas are difficult to follow. Use more varied comparisons between metals and make pronoun references explicit to create smoother progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of trend vocabulary, including “decline,” “bottomed out,” “upward trend” and “increased,” so the main movements are generally understandable. Some choices are imprecise or unnatural for describing a graph: “the proportions of nickel” is not the right expression for price changes, and “bottomed out its value” is an awkward collocation. There are also spelling and form slips, such as “june” and “february,” which should be capitalised, and “it decline.” Aim for concise, accurate terms such as “monthly price change,” “fell to a low of,” and “recovered.” This would make the descriptions more precise without requiring more elaborate vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including contrast clauses with “Nevertheless” and “However,” and the overall meaning is usually clear. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly subject–verb agreement and verb forms: “the proportions of nickel was” should be “the price change for nickel was,” while “it decline” should be “it declined.” The sentence “copper bottomed out its value” also has an incorrect grammatical pattern; use “copper reached its lowest point.” Punctuation around the parenthetical figures is inconsistent, and several sentences join ideas awkwardly. Check agreement, past-tense forms and sentence boundaries, while retaining the range of structures you are attempting.

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