Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-15

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 illustrates the shops in the country in 2011 to 2018. The major declines describe the closed shop, while the steady increase in the open shops.

At first, in 2011 the opened shops in between 8000 to 9000 that rapidly fall in 2012 round about 4000, where as the new shops opened around 6000,these shops rose in 2013 to 7000.

The major downfall was in 2015 that represent the drawback of recently opened shops. and for the early started shops had a stagnant nature after the gradually increasing or decreasing.

And the end of 2018 graph described the majority numbers of shops at the end of it, is opened markets, which was 5000.

Also from initial to the end, the graph show the massive falls in both the dotted and the line graph,which describe the majority of the highest range is in the start and the in between graph represent the fluctuation at the end it stayed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to address the task but fails to provide a clear overview or accurately report the main features of the graph. The data interpretation is often confusing, such as the claim that closures had a 'stagnant nature' or the unclear description of the 2018 figures. The response lacks a logical summary of the trends, and the data points mentioned are often inaccurate or poorly contextualized. To improve, you must clearly identify the starting and ending points, highlight the most significant trends (e.g., the crossing point of the two lines), and provide a concise overview paragraph that captures the main movement of the data without getting lost in minor details.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay lacks a clear structure. While there are paragraph breaks, the progression of ideas is disjointed and difficult to follow. Cohesive devices are used ineffectively or incorrectly, such as the awkward transition 'And the end of 2018 graph described...'. The referencing is often unclear, making it difficult for the reader to determine which line or data point is being discussed. To improve, ensure each paragraph has a clear focus and use linking words (e.g., 'however', 'in contrast', 'subsequently') to guide the reader through the data logically rather than listing observations in a fragmented manner.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and often imprecise. Phrases like 'major downfall', 'stagnant nature', and 'early started shops' are used in ways that do not accurately describe statistical trends. There is also a lack of variety in reporting verbs and nouns related to data analysis. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise academic vocabulary such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', 'a significant decrease', or 'surpassed'. Avoid informal phrasing and focus on using words that accurately describe the movement of lines on a graph.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'the graph show'), incorrect preposition usage, and awkward sentence construction (e.g., 'the major declines describe the closed shop'). The sentence structures are mostly simple or poorly formed, with very few successful attempts at complex sentences. To improve, focus on basic sentence construction, ensuring that every sentence has a clear subject and verb. Proofread to correct tense consistency and article usage, which are currently inconsistent throughout the text.

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