Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-23

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 average monthly fluctuations of Copper, Nickel and Zinc prices in 2014.

Overall, Nickel had the highest percentage at the beginning of the period. Despite some slight fluctuations, Copper had consistenly retained the sceond position. Between January and December, the change of monthly average price increases only one-percentage-point for Zinc.

From January to June, Nickel faced a decrease of 9% which is the highest fall. Copper declined from 2% to roughly around -0.5%, Zinc had the most dramatic changes, it's proce increase from 1% to 3%, then again it also fell at -1%.

From the month July to December, three of the metals prices increase from the June value. Again with some fluctuations Copper reached at approximately 1.5% which is the second position. Then comes Nickel, which rose from the previous decline at 1% by December. Lastly, Zinc increased to 2% which was the highest average monthly price change by the end of the year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You provide an overview and cover the year in two stages, identifying Nickel’s high starting point and the metals’ later recovery. Several figures and comparisons are relevant, including Nickel’s fall from 6% to around −3% by June and Zinc’s rise to 3% in February before falling. However, some key details are inaccurate or unclear: Nickel’s fall from January to June is about nine percentage points, but the wording “decrease of 9%” is imprecise; Copper ends at about 1.5%, not merely a general recovery, and Zinc’s change from January to December is about one percentage point. The overview also says Copper retained second position, which is not consistently true. Select and report the main trends more precisely, especially the mid-year lows and year-end values.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs comparing the first and second halves of the year. Time markers such as “From January to June” and “From the month July to December” help the reader follow the sequence, and “Overall” appropriately signals the summary. This coherent structure is a strength. Some links between details are less smooth, however: “Again with some fluctuations Copper reached…” is a fragment-like transition, while “Then comes Nickel” shifts abruptly in style. The overview’s claim that Copper retained second position also makes the progression harder to follow because the ranking changes. Use complete, parallel comparisons and clearer references to the metals’ values at each stage to make cohesion more natural and precise.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “fluctuations,” “declined,” “dramatic changes,” and “rose,” so the main trends are generally understandable. There are also attempts at more specific phrasing, such as “percentage-point” and “average monthly price change.” However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward: “highest percentage” is less precise than “largest monthly increase,” and “prices increase from the June value” does not clearly describe percentage changes. Spelling errors such as “consistenly,” “sceond,” and “proce” also reduce accuracy. Aim for consistent terms such as “monthly price change,” “fell to,” and “recovered to,” and proofread spelling and phrasing so the intended comparisons are immediately clear.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including “Despite some slight fluctuations…” and the sentence describing Zinc’s rise and fall. Most of the message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors affect clarity. For example, “Copper had consistenly retained” uses an awkward tense for a trend across the year, and “Zinc, it’s proce increase” joins clauses incorrectly and has an unclear subject–verb structure. “From the month July to December” also has an incorrect prepositional pattern, while “Again with some fluctuations Copper reached…” lacks a complete clause structure. Use past simple consistently for the completed year, check clause boundaries, and form complete sentences with clear subjects and verbs. These changes would improve control while preserving your attempts at varied structures.

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