Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-07
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 provided line graph illustrated the information regarding a numerous lunching and shutting of shops in the country from 2011 to 2018.
Overall, it is evident that most of shops were open and close during the all periods. While in the starting year significant number of shop were introduced as well as in the final year opening new shops were dramatically dropped.
In the year 2011, the establishment of new shops was nearby 9,000 and the closure of retail outlets was approximately, 7,000. While during subsequent period both figures expressed fluctuations. However, in the year 2015, the shutting down of stores, shows downward trend dramatically which was just near the 1,000.
Furthermore, in the year between 2016 and 2017 the launching and termination of stores were quit relevant which was similar 5000 and 4000 respectively. Whereas in the final year 2018, closing outlets shows the upward trend it was near above 5000 beside this opening the new stores was reduced to 3,000.
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 starting and ending points and the general trends. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For example, the description of the 2015 data as a 'downward trend dramatically' is slightly inaccurate as it refers to a single point, and the comparison between 2016 and 2017 is vague. While the key trends are identified, the report lacks a more precise synthesis of the data, and some figures are described in a way that makes the overall comparison difficult to follow. The overview is present but could be more clearly articulated to highlight the contrasting trends between the two categories.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'beside this' or 'quit relevant'. The progression of ideas is generally logical, but the transition between sentences could be smoother. Referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when describing the fluctuations in the middle period. Overall, the structure is sufficient to convey the information, but the flow is not always natural, which limits the score in this criterion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'lunching' instead of 'launching' and 'termination' to describe shop closures, which is not the most natural collocation in this context. Phrases like 'nearby 9,000' and 'quit relevant' indicate a limited range of vocabulary and some inaccuracies in word choice. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of sophisticated or precise terminology prevents a higher score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Examples include 'most of shops were open and close', 'in the starting year significant number of shop were introduced', and 'closing outlets shows the upward trend'. These errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement and article usage, are noticeable throughout the text. While the meaning remains understandable, the lack of control over basic grammatical structures prevents the response from reaching a higher band.
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.