Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-12

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 graph illustrate the total shop opened and closed in year 2011 to 2018 in a country.

The number of shop closed is maximum in the first year and minimum in last year's.On the other hand the number of shop opened in first year are average and are lowest in the mid years.

The number of shops closed in 2011 is about 8500 and then decrease gradually in coming of second year increase gradually in next two years.Then decrease and then remain constant of two years and then the number of shop closed is lowest in year 2018.

Furthermore the number of shop opened in a country in 2011 is about 65 hundred and these numbers decrease to six thousand in 2012 .Then these numbers increase to 7100 in 2013 however in next year the numbers decrease to 67 Suddenly the number of shop opened decrease to 500 in 2015 and then increase to 5500 in 2016 and in next two years these numbers remain constant.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the graph, such as the trends for closures and openings. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical, listing data points rather than synthesising them into a clear overview. While the prompt asks for comparisons, the connection between the two categories is weak. The data reporting is occasionally inaccurate, such as the mention of '500' for 2015, which does not align with the visual data provided. To reach a higher band, you should focus on identifying the most significant trends and providing a more cohesive summary of the overall patterns rather than describing every year individually.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes repetitive. Phrases like 'Then' and 'and then' are used frequently to link sentences, which makes the flow feel mechanical. There is a lack of sophisticated transition words to show contrast or progression. While the logical progression is generally clear, the paragraphing could be improved by grouping the data more effectively, perhaps by comparing the two categories within the same time periods rather than separating them entirely.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely on basic terms like 'number of shop' and 'increase/decrease'. There are also some errors in numerical expression, such as '65 hundred' and '67', which are confusing and imprecise. To improve, you should use a wider range of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' (e.g., 'fluctuate', 'decline', 'surge') and ensure that numerical data is presented clearly and consistently throughout the report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Subject-verb agreement is often incorrect, such as 'The graph illustrate' and 'number of shop opened'. There are also issues with articles and pluralisation, such as 'in year 2011' instead of 'in the year 2011'. While these errors do not completely prevent communication, they are frequent enough to distract the reader. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement would significantly improve the clarity of your writing.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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