Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-30

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 provided line graph illustrated the typical monthly alter in the cost of three different metals during 2014.

Oveall, it can be seen that the major change happenend in the rate of the nickel, while copper demonstrated the slightly variations and the percentage of the zinc gradually fluctuated, in all 12 months of 2014.

Initially, the ratio of coppor stood at 2% in January, it steadily fell to 1% in Feburary, reached at 0.5% and 0.6% in March and April respectively. In May and June its proportion went to the decline then sudden increased to 1%. In July, August and September it was roughly equal. After that in next two months, it declined then rose in December. In contrast, ratio of price of Nickel was 6% in first month, then sharply dropped to 4% in second month. In addition, March and April maintained equal ratio of cost of nickel. The most dramatic change in proportion was in June where it declined to minus 3%. In next three months cost of nickel maintained the same level, at minus 1%. Then sharply rose to 1% in last two months of 2014.

For Zinc, the percentage of money stood at 1% in January then moved upward to 3% in Feburary. Then declined til october. At the end, it climbed upward since the December.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall pattern: nickel changes most sharply, while copper varies less, and you report several key figures, including nickel’s January peak and June low. This gives the reader a relevant summary of the graph. However, some details are inaccurate or incomplete. Copper rises in July, not after June as your sequence suggests, and its final value is 1.5%; nickel rises to 1% in November and remains there in December, rather than rising in the last two months. The zinc account omits its November and December values and does not clearly describe its fall below zero from June to October. Your overview also says zinc “gradually fluctuated,” which is unclear. More precise coverage of these later movements would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall shape: an introduction, an overview, and separate descriptions of copper, nickel and zinc. This makes the information easy to locate, and sequencing phrases such as “Initially,” “In contrast” and “At the end” help guide the reader. The progression is generally logical, but some links are mechanical or unclear. For example, “In May and June its proportion went to the decline then sudden increased” does not clearly connect the fall with the subsequent rise, and “After that in next two months” leaves the timing imprecise. The zinc paragraph is much shorter and less developed than the others, so the coverage feels uneven. Use clearer time references and connect each metal’s changes in a consistent chronological sequence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of vocabulary for describing trends, including “steadily fell,” “sharply dropped,” “dramatic change” and “climbed.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, which limits precision. “Monthly alter” should be “monthly change,” and “the percentage of money” does not describe a metal’s price movement appropriately. Repeated use of “ratio,” “proportion” and “cost” also obscures the graph’s measure, which is the percentage change in price. There are noticeable spelling errors, including “Oveall,” “coppor,” “Feburary” and “happenend.” Aim for a smaller set of accurate trend expressions, use “price change” consistently, and proofread spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentences, including clauses introduced by “while,” “where” and “then,” and the main meaning is usually understandable. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly with verb forms, sentence boundaries and articles. For example, “the major change happenend” needs a past-tense verb, while “the decline then sudden increased” needs a correctly formed verb phrase. The opening copper sentence joins two complete ideas with a comma, and “reached at 0.5%” uses an unnecessary preposition. There is also inconsistent control of singular and plural forms, as in “the slightly variations.” These errors do not generally prevent understanding, but editing sentence structure and checking verb forms would improve accuracy.

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