Cambridge 18 Writing Task 1 Test 4 - Sample Answers (Band 9 to 4-5)

Real band 9, 8, 7 and 6.5 sample answers for this prompt, plus a genuine band 4-5 answer so you can see exactly what pulls a score down. Every sample comes with examiner-style notes on Task Achievement, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range & Accuracy.

The Prompt

Monthly Change in Metal Prices (2014)

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.

Write at least 150 words.

The Data

Average monthly % change in prices of copper, nickel and zinc (2014)

January: Copper -1.5% / Nickel +5.0% / Zinc +1.0%

February: Copper +0.5% / Nickel +6.0% / Zinc +2.5%

April: Copper +1.0% / Nickel -5.0% / Zinc +3.0%

June: Copper +2.0% / Nickel +1.0% / Zinc +4.0%

September: Copper -3.0% / Nickel -5.0% / Zinc -2.0%

December: Copper -2.0% / Nickel -4.0% / Zinc -1.5%

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Band 9

196 words

Explicitly compares the three metals' relative volatility rather than describing each one's figures in isolation.

The graph shows the average monthly percentage change in the prices of three metals, copper, nickel, and zinc, during 2014, relative to the previous month.

Overall, all three metals experienced considerable month-to-month volatility in the first half of the year but shared a clear downward trend from around the midpoint of the year onwards, with nickel showing by far the most extreme fluctuations of the three metals throughout.

Nickel prices swung most dramatically, rising sharply by 5.0% in January and 6.0% in February, its two highest points of the year, before falling steeply to -5.0% in April and remaining negative for most of the remaining months, reaching its lowest point of -5.0% again in September.

Copper and zinc followed somewhat calmer trajectories by comparison. Copper fluctuated between roughly -3.0% and 2.0% throughout the year without ever matching nickel's extremes, while zinc remained the most stable of the three, staying within a narrower band and even posting a positive change, 4.0%, in June, its peak for the year. From September onwards, all three metals recorded negative or only marginally positive monthly changes, indicating a broadly declining price trend across the sector as 2014 drew to a close.

Examiner Notes

Task Achievement: Accurately covers all three metals with a precise overview identifying nickel's extreme volatility and the shared downward trend from mid-year onwards.

Coherence & Cohesion: A clear overview precedes detail organised by metal, with cohesive devices ("by comparison", "from September onwards") linking the three data sets naturally.

Lexical Resource: Precise, varied language ("volatility", "trajectories", "marginally positive") used accurately throughout.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Wide range of accurate structures, including comparatives, used with full control.

Band 8

164 words

Accurate and clearly organised, just slightly less varied in its vocabulary than a band 9 answer.

The graph shows the average monthly percentage change in the prices of copper, nickel, and zinc during 2014.

Overall, all three metals had a lot of ups and downs in the first half of the year, but all three generally fell in price from around the middle of the year onwards, and nickel changed the most dramatically of the three.

Nickel had the biggest swings, rising by 5.0% in January and 6.0% in February, its highest points, before falling to -5.0% in April and staying negative for most of the rest of the year.

Copper and zinc changed less dramatically than nickel. Copper moved between about -3.0% and 2.0% during the year, while zinc stayed the most stable, even reaching a positive 4.0% in June, its highest point. From September onwards, all three metals had negative or only slightly positive monthly changes. This overall pattern suggests that all three metals were affected by similar broader market conditions during the final quarter of the year.

Examiner Notes

Task Achievement: Covers all three metals accurately with a clear overview, including nickel's volatility, though described a little more simply than in the band 9 answer.

Coherence & Cohesion: Clearly organised with an overview followed by detail grouped by metal; cohesive devices are accurate throughout.

Lexical Resource: Good range of vocabulary for describing volatility, though slightly less varied than the higher-band answer's phrasing.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Accurate throughout, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures.

Band 7

157 words

All figures are correct, but the comparison of relative volatility between the three metals is only loosely stated.

The graph shows the monthly percentage change in the prices of copper, nickel, and zinc during 2014.

Overall, all three metals went up and down a lot in the first half of the year, but they generally went down after that.

Nickel changed the most. It went up to 5.0% in January and 6.0% in February, but then dropped to -5.0% in April and stayed negative for most of the rest of the year.

Copper and zinc did not change as much as nickel. Copper stayed between about -3.0% and 2.0%, and zinc was the most stable, reaching 4.0% in June. After September, all three metals were mostly negative. This suggests that although the three metals behaved quite differently during the first half of the year, they were all affected by similar market conditions later on, which caused their prices to fall together towards the end of 2014 overall, before any of them showed signs of recovering.

Examiner Notes

Task Achievement: Reports all three metals accurately with a basic overview, but the overview does not clearly compare their relative volatility the way the higher-band answers do.

Coherence & Cohesion: Clearly organised by metal, though figures are listed with fairly plain connecting language throughout.

Lexical Resource: Adequate range for the task; figures are accurate but connecting language stays fairly plain throughout.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Generally accurate, mostly simple sentence structures; meaning is always clear.

Band 6.5

157 words

The figures are all correct, but agreement errors appear in almost every sentence.

The graph show the monthly percentage change in the price of copper, nickel, and zinc during 2014.

Overall, all three metal go up and down a lot in the first half of the year, but they generally go down after that.

Nickel change the most. It go up to 5.0% in January and 6.0% in February, but then drop to -5.0% in April and stay negative for most of the rest of the year.

Copper and zinc did not change as much as nickel. Copper stay between about -3.0% and 2.0%, and zinc was the most stable, reaching 4.0% in June. After September, all three metal was mostly negative. This suggest that although the three metal behave quite differently during the first half of the year, they was all affected by similar market condition later on, which cause their price to fall together towards the end of 2014 overall, before any of them showed sign of recovering.

Examiner Notes

Task Achievement: Reports all three metals accurately, matching the content of the band 7 answer.

Coherence & Cohesion: Clearly organised by metal, following the same structure as the higher-band answers.

Lexical Resource: Limited by "metal" being used without its plural form throughout.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Frequent subject-verb agreement errors ("graph show", "metal go up", "nickel change the most") appear in nearly every sentence.

Band 4-5 - What to Avoid

30 words

No exact figures appear anywhere in the report, and copper and zinc are barely distinguished from nickel.

This graph show metal price change in 2014.

Price go up and down, this is normal for market I think.

Nickel change most, this is my opinion about this graph.

Examiner Notes

Task Achievement: No exact figures are given for any metal or month, and copper and zinc are barely distinguished from nickel. A personal opinion about the market is also inserted, which has no place in a Task 1 report. At well under 150 words, the response is also underlength.

Coherence & Cohesion: Reads as three short, disconnected remarks rather than a comparison of the three metals over the year.

Lexical Resource: Vague, repetitive vocabulary ("go up and down", "change most") used instead of the specific figures given in the graph.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Frequent errors throughout ("this graph show", "nickel change most").

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These sample answers are written independently for Prep IELTS Now to illustrate real band-score differences. They are a study aid, not official Cambridge or IELTS material.