Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-22
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 5.5)
The line graph illustrates how many shops that closed and how many new shops that opened in a particular country from 2011 to 2018.
Overall, it can be clearly seen that in 2011, number of new shops that opened was stood with the highest amount to compare with the shops that closed presented with the least amount in 2015. The notable thing is that number of shop closures and opening represented with the high amount but over the period it decreased.
The number of shop closures presented with approximately 8500 in 2011 but it fell sharply in next year with 4000 number while number of shop opened presented with almost 6400 in 2011 and it decreased gradually to the next year with low amount but it significantly increased to the 2012.
Furthermore, the number of shop closures and opened reached with approximately same value in 2014 with 6500. The number of shops closures experienced a substantial decline and reached the least amount with almost 500 in 2015 whereas it increased sharply to the next year. The last three year, the number of shop closures and opened fluctuated considerably.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the graph, such as the initial values and the general trends over the period. However, the overview is somewhat confusingly phrased, making it difficult to identify the main trends immediately. While you have selected key data points, the description of the trends is occasionally inaccurate or imprecise, such as the claim that closures reached the 'least amount' in 2015 when the graph shows a different trend. To improve, ensure your overview clearly highlights the most significant overall patterns rather than listing specific data points, and double-check your interpretation of the visual data to ensure accuracy.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the logical progression is often hindered by awkward phrasing and repetitive sentence structures. While you use some cohesive devices like 'Furthermore' and 'whereas', the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when discussing the trends of closures versus openings. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that guides the reader through the data logically.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. There is a heavy reliance on basic verbs like 'presented with' and 'reached', which are often used incorrectly in this context (e.g., 'reached with approximately same value'). You attempt to use some descriptive language, but the collocations are frequently unnatural. To improve, focus on learning specific vocabulary for describing trends, such as 'plummeted', 'surged', or 'remained stable', and ensure you are using these words in their correct grammatical context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include incorrect verb forms (e.g., 'was stood with'), missing articles, and awkward prepositional phrases (e.g., 'reached with'). While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. You should focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice, which is essential for describing data in Task 1 reports.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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