Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-03

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 proportional monthly change in amounts of three different metal within a calendar year 2014.

Overall, all three materials show a decrement in monthly prices after a year. Nickel shows a least price changes after a year followed by Copper while Zinc materials shows increment in their prices.

In the first quarter year Nickel prices gradually decreased from 6 percent to 1 percent whereas, Zinc increased from 1 percent to 2 percent while, Copper decrease with very slow rate from 2 percent to .5 percent. However, second quarter changes in prices decreased more over time where Nickel tend to decrease from 1 percent to -3 percent whereas, Zinc steadily decreased from 2 percent to -1 percent while, Copper decreased from .5 percent to -.5 perecnt.

In the third and last quarter Nickel increases highly and jump from -3 to 1 percent changes in price whereas, Zinc shows highly price changes from -1 to 2 percent while, Copper percentage fluctuated and end in 1.5 percent change in price at the end of year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the three metals and describe the broad movement across the year, including nickel’s sharp fall to -3% in June and the later recovery of all three. However, the overview is not fully accurate: saying that all three show a decline “after a year” and that zinc increases overall does not clearly capture the chart’s fluctuating monthly changes. The claim that nickel shows the “least price changes” is also misleading, as it has the largest swings, from 6% to -3%. Some comparisons are useful, but the final-quarter account omits October’s falls and does not distinguish the metals’ different paths clearly. Select the main extremes and overall pattern more accurately, then support the overview with precise comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs organised by quarters. This gives the reader a sensible route through the year, and linking words such as “Overall,” “However,” and “whereas” help signal relationships. The progression is generally easy to follow, which is a strength. Some connections are less effective, however: the second-quarter sentence repeatedly uses “whereas” and “while,” making the comparisons feel mechanical, and the final paragraph groups the third and last quarters without clearly separating their developments. Use a more varied range of comparison structures and make the time divisions explicit so that each paragraph’s focus is immediately clear.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “gradually decreased,” “steadily decreased,” “fluctuated,” and “percentage change,” and the meaning is generally understandable. There are also attempts to describe different rates and directions of movement. However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for a graph report: “decrement” and “materials shows increment” are awkward, while “Nickel shows a least price changes” does not express the intended comparison clearly. “Jump” and “highly price changes” are also imprecise descriptions. Aim for standard collocations such as “fell,” “rose,” “fluctuated,” and “recorded the largest change,” and check word forms and spelling, including “percent.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, particularly when comparing metals with “whereas” and “while,” and the main message can usually be understood. However, some sentence structures are faulty, especially where several comparisons are joined in one sentence. For example, “whereas, Zinc increased … while, Copper decrease” has incorrect punctuation and an inconsistent verb form; “Nickel tend to decrease” also needs subject–verb agreement. There are further issues with articles, plurals, and sentence construction in “a least price changes” and “In the first quarter year.” Use shorter, controlled comparison sentences, check that each subject has the correct verb form, and punctuate linking clauses without commas immediately after “whereas” or “while.”

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