Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-22

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 6.5)

The line graph compares the average change per month in prices of Copper, Nickel and Zinc in 2014.

Overall, all three metals have experienced significant fluctuation in their average monthly prices and ended the year at almost similar price range. Nickel started the year with maximum average price but declined sharply till the middle of the year and recovered afterwards. While Copper and Zinc, both witnessed fluctuations throughout the year as well.

Copper and Zinc started the year 1 and 2 percent change in price in January. Although, Zinc showed increase till February and Copper started the year with decline, both faced decline in their graphs and crossed each other at around 0 percent change in prices in June. Both followed steady growth for the rest of year with rise and fall in between but ended the year around the 2 percent price change.

The third metal Nickel started the year at 6 percent price change but continued to decline till March and reached 1 percent change and showed steadiness till April as maintained the same percentage. However, declined again and reached the least of all three metals -3 percent change in June. Though it managed to recover for July, August and September but decreased again for October till -2 and rise till the end of period and reached 1 percent change finally.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You provide a clear overview of the main pattern: nickel begins highest, falls sharply around mid-year, then recovers, while all three metals finish in a broadly similar positive range. Most reported figures and trends match the graph, including nickel’s January peak and June low, and the metals’ late-year rises. This covers the task well, with relevant comparisons. However, some details are imprecise: copper and zinc do not cross at around zero in June; their June values are approximately -0.5% and -1%, respectively. The claim that both then show steady growth also simplifies their movements, particularly zinc’s small fluctuations. To strengthen the response, report the distinct late-year endpoints more accurately: copper is about 1.5%, zinc 2%, and nickel 1%.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is organised into an introduction, an overview, and two detail paragraphs, and the progression from the overall picture to individual metals is easy to follow. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “However,” and “Though” help signal relationships between ideas. This gives the report a coherent structure. At times, though, connections are mechanical or unclear: “While Copper and Zinc, both witnessed…” is a fragment, and “both faced decline in their graphs” does not clearly specify the period or comparison. The second detail paragraph also moves through nickel’s months in a list-like sequence. For stronger progression, group the metals’ shared mid-year downturn and contrasting recoveries, and use clearer references to the relevant months and values.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a suitable range of task-related vocabulary, including “fluctuation,” “declined sharply,” “recovered,” and “steady growth,” so the main trends are communicated clearly. There are also attempts at more precise descriptions, such as “the least of all three metals.” However, some word choices and collocations are awkward or imprecise: “average price” suggests an absolute price rather than a monthly percentage change, while “crossed each other” is not supported by the figures. “Rise and fall” is also vague when describing the later movements. Aim for consistent terminology such as “monthly price change” and use verbs that distinguish a slight fluctuation from a sustained rise or fall. This would make the account more precise and natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including clauses introduced by “Although,” “However,” and “Though,” and the overall meaning remains clear. Some grammatical errors nevertheless recur. For example, “While Copper and Zinc, both witnessed…” is an incomplete clause, and “Though it managed to recover for July…” is also a fragment. In “Copper and Zinc started the year 1 and 2 percent change,” the sentence needs a grammatical link such as “at changes of 1% and 2%.” There are also tense and agreement inconsistencies, as in “all three metals have experienced” followed by “ended,” and punctuation is sometimes used to separate clauses incorrectly. Check that each sentence has a complete main clause and keep past-tense reporting consistent.

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