Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-02

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 7.0)

The graph shows the number of shops opened and closed in one country between 2011 and 2018.

Overall, both the number of shops closed and opened fluctuated over the period. Meanwhile, both figures were lower at the end of the period than in the starting year.

The number of shops closed in 2011 was around 8,500. This figure fell by more than half to around 3,900 in 2012. From 2012 onwards, it increased steadily, reaching nearly 6,100 in 2014. However, in 2015, the figure fell again to around 4,000 and then levelled off until 2017, when it experienced a slight increase to 4,100. Lastly, in 2018, the downward trend continued and the number of shops closed was at its lowest, at around 3,000.

On the other hand, the number of shops opened in 2011 stood at around 6,300. This figure decreased in 2012 before reaching its peak in 2013, at nearly 7,100. There was a dramatic decline between 2014 and 2015, when it plunged to just 500. In 2016, the figure rose sharply to around 5,100 and then remained stable until 2018.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively addresses the task by identifying the main features and trends of both shop closures and openings. You have successfully highlighted key data points, such as the peak in openings in 2013 and the dramatic decline in 2015. The overview provides a clear summary of the general trends, noting the fluctuations and the overall decrease by the end of the period. To reach a higher band, ensure that you make more direct comparisons between the two categories (e.g., noting when one figure overtook the other) rather than describing them in separate, isolated paragraphs.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on the two distinct categories. Cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile', 'From 2012 onwards', 'However', and 'On the other hand' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the paragraphing is appropriate for the task. The referencing is clear, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the data, including terms like 'fluctuated', 'levelled off', 'downward trend', and 'plunged'. These choices are precise and appropriate for an academic report. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. To improve further, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or varied ways to describe numerical changes, such as 'a marginal increase' or 'a significant contraction', to demonstrate a wider lexical range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'There was a dramatic decline between 2014 and 2015, when it plunged to just 500.' The punctuation is accurate, and the majority of your sentences are error-free. The use of past tense is consistent throughout the report, which is appropriate for describing historical data. The grammatical control is stable, and there are no errors that cause confusion for the reader.

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