Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-21

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 6.0)

The line graph illustrates the trend of closing and opening of shops in a country from 2011 to 2018.

Both the openings and closings of shops followed the downward trend throughout the period. The margin between the number of shops openend in 2011 and 2018 is lower than that of closed numbers.

Starting at around 8,500 in 2011, the highest number of closed shops throughout the period, the number fell to 4,000 in 2012, before increasing to just above 6,000 in 2014. The figure then declined modestly, with almost constant between 2015 and 2017, to reach 3,000 in 2018.

Opening of shops witnessed the wildest fluctuation, starting from approximately 6,500, the figure sharply declined to about 5,000 in 2015, which witnessed the minimum shops opened among all years. However, the number of shop openings managed to edge up to just above 5,000 in 2016. The figure then remained almost constant in the consequetive years.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response provides a clear overview and identifies key trends, such as the general downward movement of both categories. You successfully highlight the peak in closures and the fluctuations in openings. However, the analysis is slightly uneven; for instance, the comparison between the start and end points is a bit vague, and the description of the 'constant' period could be more precise by referencing the specific years more clearly. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points mentioned are accurate and that the comparison between the two categories is more explicitly developed throughout the body paragraphs.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction and separate paragraphs for closures and openings. The progression of ideas is generally easy to follow. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical at times (e.g., 'The figure then...'). While paragraphing is used appropriately, the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs could be smoother. The referencing is generally clear, but some sentences feel slightly disjointed, which prevents the flow from being truly fluid.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fluctuation', 'modestly', and 'consecutive'. There are some minor errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'openend' (open) and 'consequetive' (consecutive). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. Attempting to use more varied collocations related to data trends (e.g., 'a downward trajectory' or 'a marginal decrease') would enhance your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'with almost constant between 2015 and 2017', which is missing a verb or prepositional structure, and 'the minimum shops opened', which is slightly awkward phrasing. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. To improve, focus on ensuring that your complex sentences are grammatically sound and that your subject-verb agreement is consistent.

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

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