Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-26

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 changes in the prices of three metals during the year 2014.

Overall, nickels prices significantly declined in the year 2014. Whereas, copper and zinc prices had their up and downs but they became relatively stable by the end of the year.

In the month of january nickel prices were at 6% from there on the prices started to decline and in the month of march the prices were at 1%. Tho the prices stayed stagnant in april. but in the june prices were at lowest -3 percent compared to previous month. then for following 3 months prices stayed at -1% and by the end year prices came back at 1%.

Furthermore, the copper prices were at 2% in january and the lowest point was in the march and june where the prices hovered between -1 to 0. But later on prices jumped to 1% and by the end of the year prices were between 1 and 2%. Moreover, Zinc prices surged in febuary to 3% and later declined to -1% in june. but by the end of the year prices were at 2%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main overall pattern: nickel falls sharply from its January peak, while copper and zinc recover towards year-end. You also include several useful figures, such as nickel at 6% in January and −3% in June, and zinc reaching 3% in February and 2% in December. This covers the task and gives a relevant overview. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: copper’s lowest values were about −0.5% in May and June, not in March and June, and its December figure was about 1.5%, rather than a range of 1–2%. The overview could also compare the metals’ contrasting movements more precisely. More accurate reporting and fuller coverage of key turning points would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear basic structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate discussion of nickel and the other two metals. This makes the main information easy to locate, and sequencing within the nickel paragraph is generally chronological. Some linking is effective, particularly “Furthermore” and “Moreover,” but transitions are occasionally mechanical or awkward, as in “Whereas” beginning a sentence fragment after the overview’s first sentence. The final paragraph also shifts between copper and zinc without a clear internal comparison, while several short sentences beginning “but” or “then” interrupt the flow. Use more precise links to show contrast and change, and group related trends consistently to make progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a suitable range of task-related vocabulary, including “declined,” “stagnant,” “lowest point,” “surged,” and “hovered,” which helps describe movement in the graph. The meaning is generally clear, but some word choices and collocations are imprecise: “nickels prices” should be “nickel prices,” and “had their up and downs” is informal and unnatural. “Prices jumped to 1%” is understandable, though “rose to” would be more neutral and accurate for an academic report. There are also spelling and form errors such as “january” and “febuary.” Aim for consistent, precise trend language and check spelling and the natural pairing of words before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including the contrast in “Whereas, copper and zinc prices…” and the time sequence in “from there on the prices started to decline.” Most of the intended meaning remains understandable, but some sentence boundaries and punctuation are faulty. “Whereas” is left as a fragment, and “but” and “then” are sometimes used to begin sentences without appropriate capitalisation. There are also errors in articles and sentence construction, for example “in the june prices were at lowest” and “by the end year.” Use complete clauses, consistent past-tense reporting, and more accurate article and preposition patterns. These improvements would make the varied structures more controlled.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.