Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-27

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 variation in the charges of copper, nickel and zinc during 2014. Overall, nickel had a highest percentage in price as compared to other two metals in the beginning of year. In contrast, in the mid of the year, percentage of nickel declined more then copper and zinc. Finally, other two metals remained at highest percentage than nickel at the end of the year.

First of all, in january, nickel was at the peak point of percentage in price which was 6%. Nevertheless, other two metals were on 1% and 2%. Unfortunately, nickel declined more than copper and zinc in the june, had -3% which made a huge difference. Whereas, both copper and zinc were on less than zero percentage. Moreover, all of them rose their percentages in the next month. But nickel and zinc were still less than zero while copper reached to 1% which was quite good. Furthermore, after decreasing again, nickel reached at 1%, zinc got 2% and copper was stuck between them.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall pattern: nickel begins far above the other metals, falls sharply around mid-year, and finishes below copper and zinc. The January figures and nickel’s June low of about −3% are accurately reported, and you note that all three recover in July. However, the overview is not fully precise: copper and zinc do not both remain above nickel at year-end, since copper finishes at about 1.5%, compared with 1% for nickel, while zinc is highest at about 2%. The account also gives limited coverage of the months between the main turning points, including the metals’ broadly low or stable changes from August to October. More precise comparisons and a clearer summary of the full-year pattern would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement, moving from an overview to a chronological account, and paragraphing helps distinguish these functions. Sequencing expressions such as “First of all,” “Moreover,” and “Furthermore” guide the reader through the year. However, some links are mechanical or do not clearly express the relationship between ideas: “Unfortunately” adds an inappropriate judgement, while “Whereas” introduces a fragment rather than a complete contrast. The final sentence, “after decreasing again,” is also unclear about which metals decreased and when. Organise the body around clearer stages—early decline, mid-year lows, and late recovery—and use linking phrases that make the comparisons explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of vocabulary for describing a graph, including “declined,” “rose,” “peak point,” and “percentage,” so the main trends are generally understandable. However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural for this task. “Charges” does not accurately describe metal prices, and “stuck between them” is an informal way to compare the final figures. “Unfortunately” introduces an opinion rather than neutral reporting, while “highest percentage in price” is an awkward collocation. There are also spelling and word-form slips, such as “january” and “then” where “than” is needed. Aim for precise, neutral terms such as “price change,” “fell,” “recovered,” and “finished at.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentences, including contrast structures such as “In contrast” and “while,” and the overall meaning is usually clear. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly with articles, prepositions, and sentence construction. For example, “had a highest percentage” needs a different article structure, and “in the beginning of year” is missing necessary grammatical words. “Nickel declined more than copper and zinc in the June, had −3%” joins ideas awkwardly and needs a clearer clause structure, such as stating that nickel “fell to −3% in June.” The fragment beginning “Whereas” also needs to be attached to a complete sentence. Check articles and build complete, clearly linked clauses when reporting figures.

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