Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-16

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 6.5)

The graph given illustrates the total number of shops that were shut down and the number of shops openings in a country in a span of 7 years from 2011 to 2018.

Overall, there was a serious dip in the number of shops closed in the early year, which then slightly rose and plummeted before leveling off. The number of shops opened commenced on a good number before dipping dangerously and finally being steady in the last couple of years.

In 2011, a total of 8500 shops were closed and this greatly dropped to 4000 shops being shut in 2012. Furthermore, a steady increase in the number of shops being shut down was noted between 2012 to 2014 by over 2000. Subsequently, the number decreased to 4000 again in 2015 before finally dropping to 3000 in 2018.

In contrast, the number of shops opened started at 6400 in 2011, rose to 7000 the following year before taking a deep plunge to slightly less than 1000 in 2015. However, it steeply increased to 5100 in 2016 and finally plateaud in the last two decades.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all key features of the graph, including the trends for both shop closures and openings. You have successfully identified the main features and provided relevant comparisons, such as the contrast between the initial high closure rate and the subsequent fluctuations. However, the overview is slightly imprecise; for instance, describing the period as 'the last two decades' is factually incorrect given the data spans only 2011–2018. Additionally, some descriptions of trends, such as 'dipping dangerously', are overly subjective and lack the objective tone required for an Academic Task 1 report. To improve, ensure your overview focuses strictly on the data provided and avoids emotive language.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on the two categories. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Furthermore', and 'Subsequently' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data. However, the progression of ideas is occasionally hindered by minor inaccuracies in referencing, such as the mention of 'the last two decades' when the data only covers eight years. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow, though the flow could be improved by ensuring that the timeframes mentioned are consistently accurate.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the trends, using terms like 'plummeted', 'leveling off', 'steady increase', and 'plateaud'. While these are generally appropriate, there are some instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'commenced on a good number' and 'dipping dangerously', which are not standard academic collocations for describing data. The spelling is generally accurate, but the vocabulary lacks the precision and sophistication required for a higher band. Focusing on more neutral, analytical language—such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', or 'a significant decline'—would enhance your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several error-free sentences, and your control of grammar is generally good. However, there are occasional errors, such as 'the early year' (should be 'the early years') and 'between 2012 to 2014' (should be 'between 2012 and 2014'). While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the response from reaching a higher band. To improve, ensure consistent use of prepositions and pluralization, and try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as passive voice or subordinate clauses, to describe the data more fluidly.

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

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