Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-11
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 line graph depicts the number of shops that closed and the number of new shops that opened in one nation during the period from 2011 to 2018.
Overall, the number of openings new shops had the highest at the beginning of the period, while the number of closures shops were lowest. However, this trend showed the opposite result by the end of the period.
To begin with, around 8,900 shops were new opened in 2011, followed by approximately 6,500 shops were closed. The figure for new openings shops dropped sharply in 2012 before experiencing a significant rise, reaching around 6,000 in 2014.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. Because the essay is incomplete, it fails to report on the full period (2011–2018) or provide a comprehensive summary of the main features. The overview is present but lacks the necessary detail to fully address the prompt. To improve, you must complete the analysis of the entire data set, ensuring all years are covered and key trends are compared. The current response is too brief to demonstrate the ability to select and report main features effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and a body paragraph. However, the abrupt ending due to the word count limit prevents a full assessment of cohesion. The use of cohesive devices like 'To begin with' and 'However' is appropriate, but the limited length makes the overall progression feel incomplete. To improve, ensure that you develop your ideas fully within each paragraph and use a wider range of linking words to connect your observations about the data more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but there are several errors in word formation and collocation. For example, you wrote 'new opened' instead of 'newly opened' and 'openings new shops' instead of 'new shop openings'. These errors indicate a lack of precision. To reach a higher band, focus on using more accurate collocations and varied vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'remained stable'. Currently, the range is limited and the errors occasionally distract the reader.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains several grammatical errors that impede clarity. Phrases like 'the number of openings new shops had the highest' and 'the number of closures shops were lowest' are grammatically incorrect. There is a lack of control over basic sentence structures and subject-verb agreement. While you attempt to use complex structures, the errors are frequent and sometimes make the meaning difficult to follow. Focus on mastering basic sentence construction before attempting more complex forms, and pay close attention to pluralization and verb tense consistency.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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