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 given line graph illustrates the number of shop closures and openings in a country from 2011 to 2018.
Overall, the number of shop opening showed a downward trend over the period. In contrast, ratio of the newly closures shop started with slightly rose then significant fell in 2015 before recover to increased.
Initially, in 2011, around 6,500 shops were closed. After the next two year, closures decreased slightly to around 6,000 in 2012 and increased to about 7,100 by 2013. However, there was a downward trend, dropping significantly to about 600 in 2015. After that, in 2016, it rose again to roughly 5,100 shops. End of the period remained stable trend with approximately 5,000 closures in 2017 and 2018.
In comparison, the country experienced around 8,500 shop opening at the beginning of the period. However, in 2012, there was a sharply decrease to about 4,000. From 2012 to 2014, it increased steadily, reaching around 6,100 in 2014. But in 2015, it fell to about 4,000. Following this trend in 2016 and 2017, the number of opening stable , at around 4,000 and 4,100, respectively. Finally, this figure was decline to approximately 3,000 in the end of the period.
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, including the overall trends and specific data points. However, the summary of the trends is slightly inaccurate; for instance, the description of the closure trend as having a 'downward trend' is contradicted by the data, which shows significant fluctuations. The overview is present but lacks precision in describing the general patterns. While the key features are identified, the analysis of the data is occasionally inconsistent, which impacts the clarity of the report. To improve, ensure that the overview accurately reflects the general direction of the data and that comparisons between the two categories are more clearly articulated throughout the response.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on the two categories. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Initially', and 'However' are used to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally disrupted by awkward phrasing and mechanical transitions. For example, the phrase 'Following this trend in 2016 and 2017' is slightly confusing given the previous context. The referencing is generally clear, but the logical progression within paragraphs could be smoother. The use of cohesive devices is adequate but sometimes feels a bit repetitive or forced.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing for the description of trends (e.g., 'downward trend', 'increased steadily', 'fell'). However, there are several instances of incorrect word forms and awkward collocations, such as 'newly closures shop', 'sharply decrease', and 'this figure was decline'. These errors indicate a lack of precision in word choice. While the range is sufficient to convey the main points, the frequent errors in word formation and collocation prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on accurate word forms and standard collocations for describing graphs would significantly improve the quality of the writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses and subject-verb agreement, such as 'number of shop opening showed', 'ratio of the newly closures shop started', and 'the number of opening stable'. These errors are noticeable and occasionally make the text difficult to follow. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of control over basic grammatical structures limits the score. To improve, pay closer attention to pluralization, verb tense consistency, and the correct use of adjectives versus adverbs when describing changes in data.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.