Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-04

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 line graph provides the comparative trend between two aspects in a country from 2011 to 2018: the number of shops that closed and the number of new shops that opened.

Overall, at the start of the period, more shops were opened as compared to the closing of shops. During the whole period, numerous fluctuations occurred from time to time, and both categories overlapped each other.

In 2011, the opening of shops accounted for about 8500, while closure was approximately 6500. Additionally, after one year, closed shops showed a slight decrease and moved to 6000 but surpassed the opening category, while the opening of shops class showed a significant decline from 6000 in 2011 to 4000 in 2012. In addition, the opening and closing of the shops accounted for 5000 and 7100, respectively, in 2013. Moreover, the former followed the increase and climbed to 6100; the latter had a downward trend with around 6200.

In 2015, the closure of shops showed a sharp decline from around 6100 to around 600. Furthermore, closure of shops had a slight decline and moved to 4000 in 2015. In 2016 and 2017, the opening of shops category remained stable, while closure surpassed the opening class in 2016 and moved to around 5000. In 2016 and 2017, the closure had slight fluctuations and had about 5000 at the end of the period, while openings had a slight decline in 2018 and stayed at 3000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview. You covered the key features of the graph, including the initial state and the fluctuations over time. However, there are some inaccuracies in your reporting of the data. For instance, you mention a sharp decline in 2015 to 600, which is not supported by the graph, and your description of the 2012 data is slightly confusing. To improve, ensure that your data points are precise and that your comparisons are clearly linked to the specific years shown on the axis. Overall, you have addressed the requirements of the task well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized into paragraphs, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Moreover', and 'Furthermore' to connect your ideas. However, some of the transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the progression of ideas within the third paragraph is a bit disjointed due to the contradictory statements about the 2015 data. Improving the flow between sentences and ensuring that the sequence of events is presented chronologically would enhance the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fluctuations', 'surpassed', and 'downward trend'. There are some instances of slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'opening of shops class' and 'the former followed the increase'. While these do not impede communication, they limit the precision of your report. To reach a higher band, try to use more varied collocations and avoid repeating the same phrases. Focusing on more precise reporting verbs and nouns related to data trends will help you achieve a more professional tone.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear, there are some grammatical errors, such as 'the opening and closing of the shops accounted for 5000 and 7100, respectively', where the phrasing is slightly awkward. Additionally, there are some minor issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. Despite these errors, your meaning is generally clear, and the grammar does not significantly impede the reader's understanding. To improve, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and refining the use of complex sentence structures to ensure they are error-free.

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