Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-08

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The graph below shows the number of shops that closed and the number of new shops that opened in one country between 2011 and 2018.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Number of shop closures and openings 2011– 2018

Student answer (Band 5.0)

The graph below shows the number of shops that closed and the number of new shops that opened in one country between 2011 and 2018.

The graph represents Two lines one is a dotted one and the other is a straight line but it did not mention which line represents the closed shops and which one shows the opened number of shops but as we can see the straight line first shows about 6500 and then later it were reduced by 5000 then increased and then gradually a high decrease in number was seen and then in the later years they were increased and were reported for about nearly 5000 were present.

The other line that is the dotted one first shows a rise in number that was for upto 8500 amd then later it was deceased as the years passed by and were decreased more in as the years passed by.

The comparison could be that of the dotted line represents opening of the shops then that is a higher stage than compared to closed ones.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

The response identifies the two series and mentions the opening figure of about 8,500, but it does not accurately summarise the main patterns. The claim that the solid line “gradually” fell and then rose to nearly 5,000 overlooks its dramatic drop to around 600 in 2015 and its subsequent recovery. The dotted line did not simply keep decreasing: after falling from 8,500 in 2011 to 3,900 in 2012, it rose to about 5,000 in 2013 and fluctuated before ending near 3,000. The final comparison that openings were generally higher than closures is also unsupported. The overview is therefore unclear and key features are omitted or misreported; distinguish the series and report their major peaks, falls and ending levels.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is some basic organisation: the response first discusses the solid line, then the dotted line, and ends with a comparison. However, the progression is difficult to follow because the trends are described vaguely, without consistently linking changes to years or values. Phrases such as “then later” and “as the years passed by” are repeated and do not clarify the sequence. The opening also says the graph “did not mention” which line represents each series, although the task provides the labels, creating confusion for the reader. Use separate, clearly focused paragraphs for the overview and details, and connect each trend to specific years so the comparison develops logically.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses a small set of relevant terms, including “closed,” “opened,” “rise,” “reduced” and “decrease,” so the general subject is recognisable. However, vocabulary is repetitive and several choices are imprecise or awkward, such as “a higher stage” and “were present” when describing figures. “Deceased” is also used where “decreased” is intended, and “amd” is a spelling error. These choices sometimes make the trend descriptions harder to interpret. Build a more precise range for describing data, including “stood at,” “fell sharply,” “recovered,” “fluctuated” and “ended at,” and use “number of closures/openings” rather than repeatedly referring to lines or shops.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts longer sentences with sequencing and contrast, but control is inconsistent and errors frequently affect clarity. For example, “it were reduced by 5000 then increased” has incorrect agreement and an unclear subject, while “were decreased more in as the years passed by” combines incompatible verb patterns. The sentence beginning “The comparison could be that” is also awkwardly constructed, and punctuation does not reliably separate the stages of the trends. Most sentences rely on simple clauses joined by “and” or “then,” with little accurate variety. Practise concise past-tense reporting structures, such as “Closures fell to about 600 in 2015 before recovering,” and check subject–verb agreement and sentence boundaries.

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