Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-10
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 total number of shop closures and opening in the period from 2011 to 2018, in one country.
At a glance, both numbers of closed and opened stores had an overall decline. Despite starting having a sudden decrease in 2015, shop closures surpassed shop opening in the end of the period.
In 2011, shop openings were around 8500, then had a dramatic decline to just under 4000. This number continued to increase steadily in the next two years, reaching over 6000 number of shops in 2014, before falling back to 4000. It is then remained stable until 2017 before falling to 3000 shop opening in 2018.
In 2011, shop closures were accounted for around 6300 in total, then decreased slightly to 6000 in the following year. This figure fluctuated and reached around 6400 number of closing shops in 2014, before plummeting to about 800 shops in 2015. Despite the dramatic decline, it amounted over 5000 shops in the last year.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
You have successfully identified the main features of the graph and provided a clear overview. You included data points to support your descriptions, which is essential for Task 1. However, there are some inaccuracies in your reporting of the data. For instance, you mention that closures 'plummeted to about 800' in 2015, but the graph shows a different trend. Additionally, your summary of the overall trend is slightly contradictory, as you state both categories declined, yet the data shows significant fluctuations. To reach a higher band, ensure that your data extraction is precise and that your overview accurately reflects the entire period.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is logically organized into paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on the two categories. You use some cohesive devices such as 'At a glance', 'Despite', and 'In the following year' to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel slightly forced. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that the progression of ideas between sentences is smoother. The referencing is generally clear, but ensure that the relationship between the two categories is more explicitly stated to improve the overall cohesion of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'dramatic decline', 'fluctuated', and 'plummeting'. However, there are some issues with collocation and word choice, such as '6000 number of shops' (should be '6,000 shops') and 'shop closures were accounted for' (should be 'shop closures accounted for'). These errors do not impede communication, but they do limit the precision of your writing. To achieve a higher score, focus on using more natural collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing when describing trends.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this level. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'It is then remained stable' (should be 'It then remained stable') and 'shop closures were accounted for' (passive voice error). Additionally, there are minor issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage. While these errors are noticeable, they rarely impede the reader's understanding of the information. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic verb tense consistency and ensuring that your sentence structures are grammatically sound.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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