Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The provided line graph illustrates the figure of shop closures and openings in a country from 2011 to 2018.

Overall, the closures of shops experienced significant fluctuations over time compared to the openings. While the opening of shops represents decline in the final years, the closure increases after a significant drop in 2015.

In terms of closures, in 2011, around 6300 shops were closed down in the country. While the number slightly dropped to 6000 shops in the following year, it rose to roughly 7100 shop closures, the highest figure for this category in 2013, before it plummeted to less then 1000 shop closures in 2015, which was the least number noticed on the chart. However, in 2016, the number of shops that were closed down drramatically rose to around 5200 and hovered around that level till the end of the timeline.

Regarding the new shop openings, the number started off with about 8500 before it went down to 3900 new shops opening in the next year. Since then the figures increased slightly in 2014 (6100) and dropped again to 4000 new shops in 2015. Additionally, it plateaued at this level in the next year and increase by 100 new opening is 2017 before it dipped to it's lowest number to 3000 in 2018.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. You covered all parts of the task by reporting on both shop closures and openings throughout the period. The key features, such as the significant drop in closures in 2015 and the fluctuations in openings, are well-highlighted. To reach a higher band, ensure that comparisons between the two categories are more explicit; for instance, noting when openings exceeded closures or vice versa would strengthen the analysis. Overall, the response is well-structured and addresses the prompt effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on the two categories. Cohesive devices such as 'In terms of', 'However', and 'Regarding' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two main trends. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions could be more sophisticated to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. Overall, the information is presented in a clear, logical progression.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'plummeted', 'plateaued', and 'fluctuations' appropriately. There are some minor errors, such as 'the figure of shop closures' (should be 'the number of') and 'drramatically' (spelling error). Additionally, 'it's' is used incorrectly as a possessive pronoun (should be 'its'). Despite these occasional inaccuracies, the vocabulary is precise enough to convey the intended meaning without difficulty.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'less then' (should be 'less than'), 'increase by 100 new opening is 2017' (should be 'increased by 100 new openings in 2017'), and the aforementioned 'it's'. While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede communication. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage, as you occasionally switch between past and present tenses when describing historical data.

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

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