Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

The line graph illustrates the fluctuations in the number of shop closures and new shop openings in a specific country over an eight-year period from 2011 to 2018.

Overall, both categories experienced an overall downward trend during the period, with new store openings seeing the most net reduction. While shop openings were initially higher than closures, this dynamic inverted by the end of the timeline. Notably, the year 2015 witnessed a massive anomaly where the number of business shutdowns plummeted dramatically before experiencing a rapid rebound.

In 2011, the period commenced with the highest level of new shop openings, standing at approximately 8,500. However, this figure experienced a sudden and sharp plunge to just 4,000 in 2012. Over the next two years, the number of new businesses steadily recovered, reaching a secondary peak of just over 6,000 in 2014, which almost matched the closure figures of that year. Following this recovery, openings dropped back down to 4,000 in 2015, maintaining a plateau until 2017, before ultimately dipping to a period low of exactly 3,000 in 2018

Shop ClosuresIn contrast, shop closures started at roughly 6,500 in 2011 and saw minor fluctuations over the subsequent three years, peaking at around 7,000 in 2013. The most striking feature occurred in 2015, when closures plummeted drastically to a historic low of just over 500 businesses. This sharp decline was short-lived, as closures surged exponentially back to 5,000 in 2016. For the final two years, the number of closures stabilized and finished the period at approximately 5,100 in 2018, significantly outnumbering new openings.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively covers all requirements of the task. You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. The comparison between shop openings and closures is well-handled, particularly the observation regarding the inversion of the trend by the end of the period. The inclusion of specific data points, such as the 2015 anomaly, demonstrates a strong ability to select and report key features. The information is accurate and the summary is well-structured, ensuring that the reader gains a clear understanding of the graph's overall message without unnecessary detail.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from an overview to a detailed analysis of openings and then closures. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'However', and 'Following this recovery' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of information is smooth. There is a minor formatting error where 'Shop Closures' appears as a heading within the text, but this does not significantly detract from the overall coherence of the writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary, which is used with precision. Phrases such as 'massive anomaly', 'plummeted dramatically', 'rapid rebound', and 'surged exponentially' show a sophisticated control of language. The vocabulary is well-suited to the academic context of describing data trends. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is natural and varied throughout the response, contributing to a high level of clarity and impact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences and varied clause types. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control over punctuation and tense usage is excellent. For instance, the use of participial phrases like 'maintaining a plateau until 2017' and the correct application of past tense for historical data demonstrate a high level of grammatical competence. There are no noticeable errors that impede communication, and the writing is consistently accurate throughout the entire piece.

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