Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The given line graph demonstrates there are certain number of shops which were opened and closed in a country from the period of 2011 to 2018.

In 2011, over 6000 shops were closed and it gradually decreases and noted as he line graph illustrates the number of new shops that opened and the number of existing shops that closed in a specific country from 2011 to 2018.Overall, the number of shop openings showed a downward trend over the period. In contrast, shop closures remained relatively stable, with a significant drop in 2015.In 2011, approximately 8,500 shops opened, which was much higher than the 6,200 closures. The number of openings then fell sharply to 4,000 in 2012. After that, openings increased moderately to reach 6,000 by 2014.Meanwhile, closures rose gradually from 6,200 in 2011 to about 7,000 in 2013. In 2014, both figures were very close at around 6,000.In 2015, closures dropped dramatically to a low of around 700, while openings fell back to 4,000. From 2016 to 2018, closures rose sharply back to about 5,000 and stayed level. During these final years, openings remained stable at first before decreasing to 3,000 in 2018

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all key features of the graph, including the trends for both shop openings and closures. You successfully identified the main trends and made relevant comparisons, such as noting when the figures were similar in 2014. However, the introduction is slightly confusing due to a repetitive and disjointed opening sentence where you seem to have pasted two different versions of the same idea. Despite this, the data is accurately reported and the overview provides a clear summary of the overall trends, which is essential for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is generally well-organized, with a clear progression of ideas from the start to the end of the period. You use some cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In contrast', 'Meanwhile', and 'After that'. However, the paragraphing is somewhat disrupted by the error in the introduction, where the text repeats itself. Additionally, the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs could be smoother. While the logical flow is evident, the mechanical errors in the opening section slightly detract from the overall coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'downward trend', 'remained relatively stable', 'dropped dramatically', and 'rose sharply'. This allows you to describe the data with sufficient precision. There are no significant spelling errors, and the word choices are generally appropriate for an academic report. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' to avoid repetition and demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. Most of your sentences are clear and easy to follow. However, there are some grammatical slips, particularly in the introduction where the sentence structure breaks down due to the repetition of the prompt. There are also minor issues with punctuation and sentence boundaries in the middle of the text. Despite these occasional errors, your meaning is always clear, and the grammar does not impede communication.

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

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