Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-06
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 closed and new shops opened timeline between 2 years from 2011 to 2018.
In 2011 the shop openings were around 8400 wheres the shops closures were 6400 which shows shop openings were more than the closures but this trend kept changing over the given period of time as in 2012 til 2014 we can see that closures were more than the openings and then same trend repeated from 2016 to 2018.
Additionally, in 2015 the gap between the shop closures and openings were widden the most as 4000 new shop opened and approximately 800 shops closed around more than 50 percent shops opened in the same year. After 2015 shops closures were more than new shops opening like in shop openings 2016 remained same as 2015 but closures were 5200. In 2017 and 2018 the shop closures were 5000 and 5200 respectively so upward trend, wheres openings were downwards. Lastly it shows different trends in openings and closures of shops.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main features of the graph, such as the initial higher number of openings in 2011 and the significant gap in 2015. However, the analysis is somewhat inconsistent. For instance, the description of the 2015 data is confusingly phrased, and the claim that 'more than 50 percent shops opened' is unclear in context. The summary of trends is present but lacks a clear overview or a logical grouping of data points, which makes it difficult to follow the overall narrative of the graph. To improve, ensure that the overview clearly highlights the most significant trends rather than just listing data points.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response lacks clear paragraphing, which is essential for a structured report. The ideas are presented in a single block, making it difficult for the reader to distinguish between the introduction, the main body, and the summary. While some cohesive devices like 'Additionally' and 'Lastly' are used, they are not always employed effectively to link complex ideas. The progression of information is somewhat mechanical, and the lack of clear paragraph breaks hinders the logical flow of the report. Improving the use of paragraphing and transition signals would significantly enhance the coherence of the writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is somewhat repetitive and lacks precision. Phrases like 'same trend repeated' and 'upward trend' are used, but there is a lack of variety in reporting verbs and descriptive adjectives. There are also some minor errors in word choice, such as 'widden' (widened) and 'timeline between 2 years', which is factually incorrect as the period covers seven years. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to data trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'remained stable'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'the shop openings were around 8400 wheres the shops closures were 6400' lacks proper punctuation and conjunction usage. There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and tense consistency, such as '4000 new shop opened' instead of 'shops'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors suggests a need for more careful proofreading and a better grasp of sentence construction.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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