Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The line graph provides information about the average monthly change in the prices of three metals namely copper, nickel and zinc in 2014.

Overall, it is clear that the change in prices of metals declined and then rose again, nickel made up the largest portion but made up the lowest portion in the month of June. Zinc constituted smallest portion in January but made up highest in December in contrast to copper and nickel.

In January, the change in price of copper was 2% and it decreased to 1% in the month of February. But the change in price of zinc increased from 1% to 3%. Copper recorded a negative figure in the months of May and June then rose again and stay constant at 1% in July, August and September. Zinc also recorded a negative figure in the month of June at -1% and rose slightly at 0.5%. The price change of copper recorded at 1.7% while zinc at 2% in December.

However, the change in price of nickel recorded 6% in January and declined in the next months, recorded a negative figure in June at -3% then stay constant at -1% in July, August, and September. In December, the change in price recorded at 1%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the three metals and provide an overview of the broad pattern, including nickel’s high starting point and sharp fall, as well as a later recovery in prices. Several details, however, are inaccurate or incomplete. Copper is negative in May and June, but the response says it “recorded a negative figure” without giving the values; more importantly, zinc’s December change is about 2%, while copper is about 1.5%, not 1.7%. The overview’s claim that zinc was highest in December “in contrast to copper and nickel” is also misleading, since zinc and nickel are both around 2% and copper is lower. Include the main end-of-year comparison and describe the overall pattern more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear four-paragraph structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate descriptions of copper and zinc, then nickel. This makes the information easy to follow overall. Linking words such as “Overall,” “But,” and “However” help signal shifts, although “However” does not establish a strong contrast with the preceding paragraph, and repeated use of “recorded” makes the account feel somewhat mechanical. The overview also groups several trends together without clearly distinguishing the metals’ different movements. To improve progression, organise the body by phases—early-year changes, the mid-year decline, and the late recovery—and use clearer comparisons between series within each phase.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a suitable range of task-related vocabulary, including “declined,” “rose,” “negative figure,” and “increased,” and the meaning is generally clear. There are also attempts at more formal reporting expressions, such as “constituted” and “made up,” but these are not always natural for describing line-graph values: “Zinc constituted smallest portion” is awkward, and “made up the largest portion” suggests a share of a whole rather than a monthly percentage change. Repetition of “change in price” and “recorded” limits flexibility. Choose precise graph language such as “stood at,” “fell to,” “recovered,” and “remained stable,” and vary these expressions while keeping comparisons accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple sentences and some longer structures, including comparisons with “while” and clauses introduced by “then.” Most of the message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors are noticeable. For example, “then rose again and stay constant” needs consistent past-tense forms (“stayed”), and “Zinc constituted smallest portion” is missing an article. The sentence beginning “However, the change in price of nickel…” is also awkwardly constructed, with “recorded” repeated and the sequence of actions not clearly joined. Practise maintaining past tense throughout and building comparisons in complete parallel clauses. More accurate control of articles, verb forms, and sentence links would make the range you attempt clearer and more effective.

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