Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

the accompanying line graph, presents a comparative overview of number of shops closures and openings, illustrating the key variations across the specified categories over the period from 201 to 2018.

Overall, the figure presented above highlights the most significant trends and variations among the different categories, while also providing a clear picture of the changes that took place over the period shown.

There are two lines in line graph:

one is dotted one and other is plain.

The plain line shows the shops which are opened and dotted line show the shops which have been closed.

In 2011, 6500 new shops have been opened and around 8500 shops closed, it shows that more shops closed in 2011.In 2012, 6000 new shops have been opened and around 4000 shops closed, it shows that more shops opened in 2012.In 2013, 7100 new shops have been opened and around 500 shops closed, it shows that more shops opened in 2013.In 2014, 6500 new shops have been opened and around 6200 shops closed, it shows that more opened in 2014.In 2015, 500 new shops have been opened and around 4000 shops closed, it shows that more shops closed in 2015.In 2016, 5100 new shops have been opened and around 4000 shops closed, it shows that more shops opened in 2016.In 2017, 5000 new shops have been opened and around 4100 shops closed, it shows that more shops opened in 2017.In 2018, 5200 new shops have been opened and around 3000 shops closed, it shows that more shops opened in 2018.

The given line chart shows the total chart and all the data from 2011 til 2018

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main features of the graph, but it fails to provide a meaningful summary or synthesis of the data. Instead of grouping information or identifying key trends, the response lists data point by point for every single year. This mechanical approach prevents the identification of significant features, such as the overall downward trend in closures or the volatility of openings. The overview provided is vague and does not highlight the most important trends as required by the task. To improve, you should group data into logical periods or compare the two categories rather than listing them chronologically.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay lacks logical progression. The body paragraph is a repetitive list of sentences following the same structure: 'In [year], [number] new shops... it shows that more shops...'. This makes the writing feel mechanical and monotonous. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link ideas; instead, the text relies on simple, repetitive sentence starters. Paragraphing is also insufficient, as the entire analysis is contained within one long, poorly structured block. To improve, use transition words like 'conversely', 'meanwhile', or 'in contrast' to connect your observations and group related data points into distinct paragraphs.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. You use the same phrases repeatedly, such as 'new shops have been opened' and 'shops closed'. There is little attempt to use a range of vocabulary to describe trends (e.g., 'fluctuated', 'peaked', 'declined', 'remained stable'). Furthermore, there are errors in word choice and phrasing, such as 'the accompanying line graph, presents' (unnecessary comma) and 'total chart'. To reach a higher band, you must vary your vocabulary and use more precise terms to describe the movement of the lines on the graph.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response relies almost exclusively on simple sentence structures. There is a lack of complex sentences, which are necessary for a higher band score. You also make frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses (e.g., '6500 new shops have been opened' should be '6500 new shops were opened' as the data is in the past) and article usage. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with several run-on sentences and missing spaces after periods. To improve, focus on using a variety of sentence structures, including subordinate clauses, and ensure your verb tenses are consistent with the timeframe provided in the prompt.

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

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