Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-29
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 linear cart depicts the figure of shops that closed and number of new shops that opened in a particular nation from 2011 to 2018.
it is evident from the chart that in 2012, new shop figure was around 6200 which slightly increase and then reach to its peak point which was approximately 7100. intersetingly the trend get reversed and the numbers of newly opened shop decline drammaticaly, although in 2016, the figure increase drastically and reach to 5300 , however in futher two years , there were slight changes.
moving to number to shops that closed were approx 8700 in 2012, futhter there was significant decline in the number in 2013. the figure reached to 6000 in 2014, and then figure gradually decline and in year 2018 , number of shops that were closed was 3000.
overall, the newly open shops were more in 2012 as compare to 2018 and it shows more siginificant changes . moreover , number of closed shop were gradually decreasing .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the task by summarizing the main features of the graph. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you identify the peak for new shops and the general decline in closures, the comparison between the two categories is limited. You mention that new shops were higher in 2012 than in 2018, but you miss opportunities to compare the intersection points or the relative rates of change between the two trends. The overview is present but lacks a clear synthesis of the overall trends, such as the inverse relationship between the two categories in certain periods.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inaccurate. For example, 'intersetingly' is misspelled and used to start a sentence that lacks a clear logical link to the previous one. Transitions like 'moving to' and 'futher' are used, but the flow between sentences is often disjointed. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when referring back to specific figures, which makes the progression of ideas feel a bit repetitive rather than analytical.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several spelling errors, such as 'intersetingly', 'drammaticaly', 'siginificant', and 'futher'. You rely on basic descriptors like 'slight changes' and 'figure increase'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to data trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'plummeted', 'surpassed', or 'remained stable'. The current range is sufficient to convey the basic meaning, but the frequent spelling errors and limited lexical variety restrict the score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include missing articles ('in year 2018'), incorrect verb tenses ('the trend get reversed'), and subject-verb agreement errors ('number to shops that closed were'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas and periods. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and article usage would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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