This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay from the new IELTS Cambridge 18 book of past tests on the topic of average monthly change in a line chart showing copper, nickel, and zinc prices.

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IELTS Cambridge 18: Average Monthly Change Line Chart

The line chart gives information about the change in monthly prices for copper, nickel and zinc over the course of 2014. Overall, there were declines for the prices of copper and especially nickel, and a moderate rise for zinc. By the end of the period, the changes had become less extreme and nickel clearly experienced the greatest month-to-month volatility. 

In January of 2014, the percentage change for nickel based on the previous month was 6%, by far higher than copper (2%) and zinc (1%). This trend reversed for nickel with the percentage changes dropping to 1% by March and a low of -3% by June. The divergences for the other minerals were more moderate with a high of a 3% change for zinc in February before a declining trend over the remainder of the first half of the year. Copper prices similarly fell but were grouped slightly lower around 1% to -1%. 

In the second half of the year, nickel production declined (-1% over most months) before a sharp rise to finish the year with 1% increases. Copper, in contrast, hovered near 1% from July onwards with a slight uptick in December. Zinc was marginally lower with .5% drops for the majority of the latter part of the year, prior to a surge to finish with a 2% rise in December, the highest ending point among all mineral prices.

Analysis

1. The line chart gives information about the change in monthly prices for copper, nickel and zinc over the course of 2014. 2. Overall, there were declines for the prices of copper and especially nickel, and a moderate rise for zinc. 3. By the end of the period, the changes had become less extreme and nickel clearly experienced the greatest month-to-month volatility. 

1. Paraphrase what the bar chart shows.
2. Write a clear overview summarising the differences and the overall trend.
3. This one is a little complex so it needs a second sentence for the overview.

1. In January of 2014, the percentage change for nickel based on the previous month was 6%, by far higher than copper (2%) and zinc (1%). 2. This trend reversed for nickel with the percentage changes dropping to 1% by March and a low of -3% by June. 3. The divergences for the other minerals were more moderate with a high of a 3% change for zinc in February before a declining trend over the remainder of the first half of the year. 4. Copper prices similarly fell but were grouped slightly lower around 1% to -1%. 

1. Begin writing about the data for the first categories.
2. Compare between each sentence.
3. Add as much detail as possible.
4. This essay is a bit long – aim for about 175 words.

1. In the second half of the year, nickel production declined (-1% over most months) before a sharp rise to finish the year with 1% increases. 2. Copper, in contrast, hovered near 1% from July onwards with a slight uptick in December. 3. Zinc was marginally lower with .5% drops for the majority of the latter part of the year, prior to a surge to finish with a 2% rise in December, the highest ending point among all mineral prices.

1. Write about the final other parts of the graph – include everything!
2. Compare the categories.
3. Better to include all the data than be too short!

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

The line chart gives information about the change in monthly prices for copper, nickel and zinc over the course of 2014. Overall, there were declines for the prices of copper and especially nickel, and a moderate rise for zinc. By the end of the period, the changes had become less extreme and nickel clearly experienced the greatest month-to-month volatility. 

In January of 2014, the percentage change for nickel based on the previous month was 6%, by far higher than copper (2%) and zinc (1%). This trend reversed for nickel with the percentage changes dropping to 1% by March and a low of -3% by June. The divergences for the other minerals were more moderate with a high of a 3% change for zinc in February before a declining trend over the remainder of the first half of the year. Copper prices similarly fell but were grouped slightly lower around 1% to -1%. 

In the second half of the year, nickel production declined (-1% over most months) before a sharp rise to finish the year with 1% increases. Copper, in contrast, hovered near 1% from July onwards with a slight uptick in December. Zinc was marginally lower with .5% drops for the majority of the latter part of the year, prior to a surge to finish with a 2% rise in December, the highest ending point among all mineral prices.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

gives information about shows

copper a mineral used for making wire

nickel a mineral for making coins

zinc a healthy mineral

over the course of during the entire time

Overall in general

declines goes down

moderate rise small increase

less extreme not as big

clearly experienced the greatest month-to-month volatility definitely changed a lot more each month

based on the previous month from the month before

by far higher than much more than

This trend reversed for this pattern went the other way in terms of

dropping to falling to

a low of low point of

divergences differences

more moderate with a high of a not as extreme with a top level of

before a declining trend over the remainder of the first half of the year prior to a falling pattern for the rest of the year

similarly fell also decreased

grouped slightly lower around all less at close to

In the second half of the year after July

declined went down

before a sharp rise to finish the year with prior to a surge to end at

in contrast however

hovered near was around

from … onwards starting here and going to here

a slight uptick a little increase

marginally lower with a little less

drops falls

the majority of the latter part of the year most of the rest of the year

prior to a surge to finish with before a big increase to end at

highest ending point among all mineral prices the biggest number for all categories

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

ɡɪvz ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃᵊn əˈbaʊt 
ˈkɒpə 
ˈnɪkl 
zɪŋk 
ˈəʊvə ðə kɔːs ɒv 
ˈəʊvərɔːl 
dɪˈklaɪnz 
ˈmɒdərɪt raɪz 
lɛs ɪksˈtriːm 
ˈklɪəli ɪksˈpɪərɪənst ðə ˈɡreɪtɪst mʌnθ-tuː-mʌnθ ˌvɒləˈtɪləti 
beɪst ɒn ðə ˈpriːviəs mʌnθ 
baɪ fɑː ˈhaɪə ðæn 
ðɪs trɛnd rɪˈvɜːst fɔː 
ˈdrɒpɪŋ tuː 
ə ləʊ ɒv 
daɪˈvɜːʤənsɪz 
mɔː ˈmɒdərɪt wɪð ə haɪ ɒv eɪ 
bɪˈfɔːr ə dɪˈklaɪnɪŋ trɛnd ˈəʊvə ðə rɪˈmeɪndər ɒv ðə fɜːst hɑːf ɒv ðə jɪə 
ˈsɪmɪləli fɛl 
ɡruːpt ˈslaɪtli ˈləʊər əˈraʊnd 
ɪn ðə ˈsɛkənd hɑːf ɒv ðə jɪə 
dɪˈklaɪnd 
bɪˈfɔːr ə ʃɑːp raɪz tuː ˈfɪnɪʃ ðə jɪə wɪð 
ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst, ˈhɒvəd nɪə 
frɒm 
ˈɒnwədz 
ə slaɪt uptick 
ˈmɑːʤɪnəli ˈləʊə wɪð 
drɒps 
ðə məˈʤɒrəti ɒv ðə ˈlætə pɑːt ɒv ðə jɪə 
ˈpraɪə tuː ə sɜːʤ tuː ˈfɪnɪʃ wɪð 
ˈhaɪɪst ˈɛndɪŋ pɔɪnt əˈmʌŋ ɔːl ˈmɪnərəl ˈpraɪsɪz 

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

The line chart g________________t the change in monthly prices for c_______r, n_____l and z___c o__________________f 2014. O______l, there were d______s for the prices of copper and especially nickel, and a m___________e for zinc. By the end of the period, the changes had become l___________e and nickel c___________________________________________________________________________________________y. 

In January of 2014, the percentage change for nickel b_______________________h was 6%, b______________n copper (2%) and zinc (1%). T_______________r nickel with the percentage changes d___________o 1% by March and a_______f -3% by June. The d_________s for the other minerals were m___________________________________a 3% change for zinc in February b__________________________________________________________________r. Copper prices s__________l but were g_______________________________d 1% to -1%. 

I____________________________r, nickel production d_________d (-1% over most months) b____________________________________h 1% increases. Copper, i_________t, h___________r 1% f___m July o_________s with a____________k in December. Zinc was m__________________h .5% d_____s for t_________________________________________________r, p_________________________h a 2% rise in December, the h___________________________________s.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/zinc

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Deforestation

1. Does your country have a lot of forests?
2. What threats are posed by deforestation?
3. Are there alternatives to cutting down forests?
4. What can the average citizen do to help combat this situation?
5. What will the future of the Earth’s forests look like?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS chart below:

IELTS 16 Essay: Ownership of Electrical Appliances Line Chart