Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-01

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 compares the proportion of variation in the prices of copper, nickel and zinc metal per month in 2014.

Overall, all three metals had a substantial change in their prices in the start and the end of the year and maintained the same values in July, August and September.

The price of copper stayed pretty constant throughout the year. In January it had 2% of difference with respect to previous month and reached almost the same price as before in may and June then it's cost started increasing and plateaued at 1% for three months before rising to almost 2% in december.

In case of nickel metal, the pieces were fluctuating dramatically with having a 6% change in prices in January to 1% change in March. Meanwhile, it's cost sharply dropped to -3% in June before it rose to -1% in July and remained stable for three months and again surged to 1% in November and then stayed the same in December too.

The Zinc metal also showed the variations in prices in the start of year and went from 1% to 3% with in the first two months but then change deduced to 1% in may before it reached little below 0% and stayed stable before surging back to 2% in December.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the three metals and report several key movements, including nickel’s January peak and June low, copper’s relatively small fluctuations, and the late-year recovery in zinc and nickel. The response also includes an overview, but it is not fully accurate: the claim that all three had substantial changes at both the start and end of the year overlooks copper’s modest movements, and saying the metals maintained the same values in July to September is misleading because their rates differ. Some details are also imprecise: copper reaches 1.5% in December, not almost 2%, while zinc is around 1.5% in November before reaching 2% in December. A more precise overview contrasting nickel’s volatility with copper’s stability would make the main features clearer.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is organised into an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for copper, nickel, and zinc, so the reader can follow the discussion easily. The sequence within each metal’s paragraph is generally chronological, and linking expressions such as “Meanwhile” and “before” help show changes over time. This clear overall arrangement is a strength. To make progression more effective, avoid repeating similar descriptions of rises and falls without drawing comparisons across metals. The overview’s statement that the metals had the same values in July to September also weakens the logical connection between the summary and the details. More precise referencing and a direct comparison of the metals’ mid-year declines would add flexibility and cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for describing trends, including “fluctuating dramatically,” “plateaued,” “sharply dropped,” and “surged.” These choices help communicate the broad movements, and the meaning is generally clear. However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or informal: “proportion of variation” and “2% of difference” are not natural ways to describe the graph, while “pieces” appears to be an incorrect choice for prices. “Pretty constant” is also too conversational for an academic report. There are spelling and word-form slips, including “with in” and “change deduced,” which reduce precision. Use standard trend language consistently, such as “monthly percentage change,” “remained relatively stable,” and “fell to.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, using time clauses and contrast, for example, “before it rose to -1% in July” and “then it stayed the same in December too.” Most of the intended meaning can be understood, but some grammatical errors remain. In “then it's cost started increasing,” the possessive should be “its,” and the sentence needs clearer punctuation. The phrase “with having a 6% change” is an awkward and faulty construction; a simpler form such as “after a 6% rise” would be more accurate. There are also inconsistent capitalisation choices for “May,” “December,” and “Zinc,” and some long sentences would benefit from clearer clause boundaries. More consistently accurate sentence patterns would strengthen control.

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