Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-07

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)

Overall, the number of new shop openings showed a downward trend while the closing of shops fluctuated. A noticeable thing is the sharp fall in closure of the shops in 2015. in year 2011, approximately 8500 new shops were opened after which the figure sharply fell to 4000. Then a slight rise began to come in the upcoming years. As in year 2013, about 5000 shops were opened and in the next year more than 6000 shops were opened. In the next year, the figure again dropped to 4000 and remained constant for three years.

On the other hand, around 6200 shops were closed in 2011 and this fluctuated for three years and most of the shops were closed in year 2013 while crossing the figure of 7000. Closure of shops faced an extreme downfall in year 2015 where the figure directly dropped to zero. This ratio started to make progress in the next upcoming years where the number of shops closed went to around 5000 in the years [redacted phone].

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided relevant data points to support your summary. You covered both the opening and closing shop trends across the period. However, the report lacks a clear, concise overview of the most significant differences or trends at the start. While you mention a downward trend for openings and fluctuations for closures, the analysis could be improved by grouping the data more effectively rather than listing year-by-year changes. The description of the 2015 closure figure as 'zero' is a key observation, but ensure you always provide a clear comparison between the two categories to fully meet the requirements of an Academic Task 1 response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is logically organized into two main paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the trends for each category. You use some cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand' and 'In the next year' to transition between ideas. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some sentences feel like a list of data points rather than a cohesive narrative. To improve, try to use more varied linking words and ensure that the relationship between the two categories is highlighted more explicitly throughout the text to create a smoother progression of information.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the main features of the graph, such as 'downward trend', 'fluctuated', and 'extreme downfall'. However, there are some instances of slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'a slight rise began to come' or 'this ratio started to make progress'. These choices are understandable but lack the precision expected at higher bands. Using more academic collocations would enhance the professional tone of your report. Your spelling is generally accurate, and the vocabulary used is appropriate for the task requirements.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is always clear, there are several minor grammatical errors, such as 'in year 2011' (should be 'in 2011' or 'in the year 2011') and 'the closing of shops' (which could be more concisely phrased as 'shop closures'). Punctuation is generally functional, though some sentence boundaries could be improved for better readability. The errors present do not impede communication, but they do prevent the response from reaching a higher band score. Focus on consistent article usage and refining sentence structure for better flow.

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