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 a downward trend throughout the period. The margin between the number of shops opened in 2011 and 2018 is lower than that of closed ones.

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, remaining constant between 2015 and 2017, to reach 3,000 in 2018.

Opening of shops witnessed the most significant 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 covers the main features of the graph, including the overall downward trend for both categories. You successfully identified key data points, such as the starting figures and the 2018 totals. However, the analysis is slightly imbalanced; while you describe the closures in detail, the description of openings is less precise. For instance, stating that 2015 witnessed the 'minimum shops opened' is accurate, but the comparison between the two categories could be more explicit. To reach a higher band, ensure that all key features are highlighted with equal clarity and that comparisons are drawn more consistently throughout the report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction and separate paragraphs for the two categories. The progression of ideas is generally smooth, and you use cohesive devices such as 'however' and 'before increasing to' to link your points. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the paragraphing could be improved by grouping the data more effectively to facilitate comparison. The use of referencing is generally clear, though the flow between the description of closures and openings could be more seamless to better highlight the relationship between the two trends.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'downward trend', 'modestly', and 'fluctuation' appropriately. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, which is generally successful. However, there are minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'consequetive' (spelling error) and 'the margin between... is lower than that of closed ones', which is slightly awkward. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and ensure spelling accuracy, as these small slips prevent the vocabulary from being considered 'wide and flexible' at the higher band levels.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'Starting at around 8,500 in 2011, the highest number of closed shops... the number fell to 4,000'. Most of your sentences are clear, and the grammar is generally accurate. There are a few minor errors, such as the missing article in 'Opening of shops witnessed' (should be 'The opening of shops'). While you show good control over punctuation and sentence structure, the range of complex structures is somewhat limited. Increasing the variety of your sentence patterns would help demonstrate a higher level of grammatical flexibility.

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