Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-28

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 given graph compares how the average monthly prices of Copper, Nickel and Zinc fluctuated in the whole year of 2014. It is a interesting fact that the price of Nickel changed the most in comparision with the last month price among the three metals in January wheras lowest in December.

In the month of January, it can be seen that the price of Nickel (6%) changed considerably than the price of other two metals Copper (2%) and Zinc(1%). In the next month, although the price of nickel (4%) and zinc(3%) increased rapidly, the price of copper(1%) didn't escalated that much. From March to April, it can be observed that the price of the metals increased minimally which was around 0% to 2%. After April, the price of the products started decreasing. They reached the lowest point in the month of July specially for Nickel(-3%) and Zinc (-1%). From July, the changes in price for the metals were stable (Copper 1%, Zinc -0.5%, Nickel -1%). But the picture started changing in the month of October, prices started increasing. In December, changes in price for Zinc was the most in compared with the previous month which was 2%, in the meanwhile 0.5% for Copper and 1% for Nickel.

Overall, the price of Copper was stable in comparision with the other two metals in 2014. It is to be noted that the price of Nickel fluctuated the most around the year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main pattern that nickel fluctuated most and copper was comparatively stable, and you include several relevant figures, such as nickel’s 6% rise in January and 3% fall in June, and zinc’s 2% rise in December. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the metals did not all increase from March to April, and the lowest point for nickel and zinc was in June, not July. The claim that prices began increasing in October also overlooks that copper and zinc were still falling or unchanged then; the clearer recovery occurs in November. The overview is relevant, but it would be stronger if it summarised the mid-year falls and late-year recovery accurately and distinguished monthly price changes from price levels.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement, with an introduction, a chronological account and a concluding overview. Time markers such as “In the next month,” “From March to April” and “In December” help the reader follow the year. However, the progression is occasionally weakened by inaccurate or confusing transitions: “After April” suggests a continuous decline, while the figures show copper rising in July, and “From July” does not clearly distinguish the subsequent months. The overview is placed at the end, which is acceptable, but it repeats the nickel-fluctuation point rather than adding a concise synthesis of the main stages. Use clearer grouping of the early-year movements, mid-year downturn and late-year recovery, and ensure each linking phrase matches the data.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for describing trends, including “fluctuated,” “stable,” “decreasing” and “lowest point,” and the meaning is generally clear. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “It is to be noted,” though this sounds formulaic. Some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward: “changed considerably than” should be “changed considerably more than,” “didn’t escalated” is not a natural expression, and “the price of the products” is imprecise when referring to the metals’ monthly percentage changes. Spelling errors such as “comparision” and “wheras” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise trend language, for example “rose,” “fell,” “recovered” and “remained broadly stable,” while avoiding repeated use of “price” where “monthly change” is intended.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex structures, including a contrast clause beginning “although” and time clauses such as “After April.” Most sentences remain understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “It is a interesting fact” needs the article “an,” and “the price of Nickel changed considerably than” has an incomplete comparative structure. In “the price of copper(1%) didn't escalated,” the verb after “didn’t” should be in its base form. There are also agreement and sentence-boundary problems in “prices started increasing,” which is joined to the preceding clause with only a comma, and “changes in price for Zinc was.” Improve control of articles, verb forms, agreement and punctuation, while retaining the range of sentence structures you are already attempting.

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