Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-12

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 5.5)

The line graph illustrates the number of shop closures and new shop openings in a particular country between 2011 and 2018.

Overall, the numbers of shop openings experienced significiant downward trend over the period, whereas the shops closures fluctuated considerably. Noteably, the number of closures reaches it's lowest limit in 2015. Before recovering sharply in the coming years.

Looking at the details, approximately 8500 new shops opened in 2011, at the same time, almost 6400 shops closed in the same year. The figure gradually decreased in 2012, where only 4000 new shops opened, as compared to the openings the 6000 shops results in clousers. Before rising gradually to approximately to 6200 in 2014. After that, it declined to 4000 in 2015 and remain stable until 2017, and later in 2018 it falls to 3000.

In contast, the shop closures decreases slightly from 6400 in 2011 to 5900 in 2012. Then it is increased to peak of aproximately 7200 in 2013, the again slightly fall to 6500 in 2014. Then in 2015 there is a very big fall to 900 and it regain its worth in 2016 and remain stable till 2018

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AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the two series and provide a clear overall contrast: openings generally declined, while closures fluctuated, with a pronounced low in 2015. Several key figures are included, such as 8,500 openings in 2011 and the closure peak of about 7,200 in 2013. However, some details are inaccurate: openings rose from 3,900 in 2012 to 5,000 in 2013, rather than falling to 4,000 in 2012; closures were about 600 in 2015, not 900; and openings were not stable through 2017, since they increased slightly from 4,000 to 4,200. The final closure figures also vary, rising from 5,000 in 2017 to 5,200 in 2018. Check the chart carefully and report these comparisons more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two detail paragraphs that discuss openings and closures separately. This makes the main categories easy to follow, and transitions such as “Overall” and “In contrast” help signal relationships. However, progression is sometimes weakened by unclear or mechanical linking. For example, “Before rising gradually…” and “Before recovering sharply…” are sentence fragments, while “at the same time” joins figures without clearly explaining their comparison. The openings paragraph also moves through several years with limited signposting, and the final sentence ends abruptly. Use complete sentences and clearer time-based links, such as “Thereafter” or “By 2018,” to make the sequence smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “fluctuated,” “peak,” “declined,” and “recovering,” which helps describe changes rather than simply list figures. Some choices, however, are inaccurate or unnatural: “lowest limit” is not a natural way to describe a minimum, and “regain its worth” does not clearly express a recovery in the number of closures. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “significiant,” “Noteably,” “clousers,” “contast,” and “aproximately.” These do not prevent the reader from understanding the general message, but they reduce precision and control. Aim for standard trend collocations and proofread spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, and the overall meaning is usually understandable. However, some grammatical errors recur and occasionally make relationships between ideas unclear. For example, “the numbers of shop openings experienced significiant downward trend” needs an article and more natural subject construction, while “the shop closures decreases slightly” has a subject–verb agreement error. Tense control is also inconsistent in “Then it is increased” and “remain stable,” and “it's lowest limit” uses an incorrect possessive form. Several clauses beginning with “Before” are incomplete sentences. Build complete clauses, keep past-tense reporting consistent, and check agreement and possessives during revision.

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