Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

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

Overall, The number of shops that closed experienced biggest down fall over the period. Closed shops recorded lowest value of just 700 in 2015. The number of new shops that opened also declined over the period but to a lesser extent.

In the starting year, new shops were 8500 and closed shops were 6500. In 2012, new shops quickly went down to 3900 and closed shops also decline but to a lesser extent. In 2013 and 2014, new shops expanded continuously to 6100 and closed shops face a decline to 6700 in 2014 after expanded to 7100 in 2013.

In 2015, Closed shops dropped dramatically to just 700 and new shops also came down to 4000. In 2016 closed shops grew notably to 5100 while new shops remain unchanged. After that closed shops stayed at till the final year. while new shops dropped to 3000 in the final year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the graph, including the overall trends and specific data points. However, the analysis is somewhat inconsistent. For instance, the statement that closed shops experienced the 'biggest downfall' is vague, and the description of the 2013-2014 period is slightly confusing due to inaccurate reporting of the data trends. While the overview is present, it lacks a clear, analytical summary of the relationship between the two categories. To improve, ensure that comparisons are more precise and that the overview highlights the most significant differences or similarities between the two lines throughout the period.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the chronological progression. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive (e.g., 'In 2012', 'In 2013 and 2014', 'In 2015'). Some transitions are awkward, such as 'After that closed shops stayed at till the final year', which lacks clarity. The referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect the data points more fluidly rather than listing them sequentially.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'biggest down fall' and 'closed shops face a decline'. The student relies on basic verbs like 'went down', 'came down', and 'grew', which limits the sophistication of the report. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'plummeted', 'remained stable', or 'witnessed a marginal increase'. Spelling and word choice are generally clear enough to avoid impeding communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the quality of the writing. Issues include missing articles ('in one country'), incorrect verb tenses ('closed shops face a decline'), and awkward sentence construction ('closed shops stayed at till the final year'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with capitalization after commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage would significantly improve the accuracy.

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.