Examiner Comments
- This report presents a clear and accurate description of how the prices of copper, nickel and zinc changed month by month over the course of 2014.
- The introduction effectively paraphrases the task and clearly outlines the focus of the data.
- The overview is well developed, highlighting key overall trends: the downward movements of copper and nickel, the moderate rise in zinc, and the greater variation in nickel compared to the other two metals.
- Key turning points are accurately identified and supported with precise figures, such as nickel’s peak in January, zinc’s mid-year decline, and the relative positions of the three metals by December.
- All main trends and comparisons are included, with no unnecessary detail.
- The report follows a logical and clear structure, with the overview placed immediately after the introduction, followed by a clear paragraph sequence: copper first, nickel second, and zinc last.
- This progression makes the trends easy to follow and helps establish natural comparisons.
- Cohesive devices are used appropriately and naturally, e.g. “by contrast,” “in the middle of the year,” “until October,” “meanwhile.”
- Effective referencing (e.g. “its line intersected,”) avoids repetition and maintains smooth flow.
- Vocabulary is precise and suitably varied, with effective expressions to describe change and position over time.
- Phrases such as “greatest variations,” “downward trends,” “finished with the lowest price change,” and “ending with the strongest positive result” demonstrate strong control of language appropriate to an academic context.
- Synonyms are used effectively to reduce repetition (e.g. rose / climbed, fluctuations / movements).
- Word choice is accurate and clear throughout.
- A wide range of grammatical structures is used accurately and flexibly.
- Tense use is well controlled: the past simple is used consistently to describe the movements across the year.
- Adverbial phrases and complex sentences are handled with ease, e.g. “until October,” “Its line intersected those of zinc and nickel in the middle of the year as their figures declined.”
- Sentence variety is strong and enhances the clarity and sophistication of the description.
Useful Vocabulary
Underwent or went through something.
Overall, copper and nickel experienced downward trends, while zinc showed a moderate upward trend.
Not extreme; average or medium in degree.
Overall, copper and nickel experienced downward trends, while zinc showed a moderate upward trend.
Sharply or suddenly, indicating a large change in a short time.
Nickel experienced the greatest variations, starting the year at a particularly high point and then falling steeply mid-year, whereas copper remained the most stable.
Continuous small changes between high and low levels.
After this, its fluctuations remained relatively limited, generally lying between –1% and 1% throughout the period.
Finally; in the end or after everything has been considered.
Copper ultimately ended the year at a level positioned between the other two metals.
Reached the highest point or value.
It peaked at 6% in January, far higher than the other metals at that point, then fell rapidly to 1% in March and reached –3% in June.
Returning to a normal or improved state after a decline.
Until October, its monthly changes stayed at or below –1%, before recovering to 1% in November and holding steady through December.
Came together or met at a common point.
Early in the year, nickel stayed well above copper and zinc, but the lines converged in the second half and it finished with the lowest price change.
The path or progression of something over time.
Meanwhile, zinc followed a more moderate upward trajectory.
