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)

Here we have a comparison between opening and closures of shops in market . As we are given in the graph that in year 2011 there approx 8500 shops are closed in that specific country which have been discussed in the graph and at the same time there are approx 6400 shops are opened in the market . In upcoming years there is sudden improvement of market where we can clearly see that at year 2012 there are only 4000 shops which would closed in market and about 6000 new shops are opened which is far better than previous year . Further more we can see that in year 2013 the ratio between the closure and opening of shops is balanced as compare to previous year 2012 . But in coming years its clear that opening and closing ratios are near to each other means there is no clear difference between opening and closure of shops in that specific year . And in year 2015 there is a huge crack down in market that in this there less shops opened near about 500 only but in graph we can clearly fetch that there are about 4000 shops close in market which about seven times more than the shops opening ratio . At last in further years there is a slight improvement in the market trends that there is less shops closed in the market than the shops opened . The total scenario is that the higher rate of shops closure is occur in market in year 2011 and less shops opened in year 2015 .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the graph, such as the initial high closure rate in 2011 and the significant drop in openings in 2015. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial and relies heavily on listing data points rather than synthesising trends. The description of the 'balanced' ratio in 2013 and the 'slight improvement' in later years is accurate, but the response lacks a clear overview or summary paragraph, which is essential for a Band 6 or higher. The mention of 'huge crack down' is an inaccurate interpretation of the data, as it describes a market trend rather than a regulatory event. To improve, ensure you provide a clear summary of the overall trends at the beginning or end.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is organised chronologically, which helps the reader follow the narrative. However, the paragraphing is non-existent; the entire response is a single block of text. This makes the progression of ideas feel cluttered. While some cohesive devices are used, such as 'Further more' and 'At last', they are often used mechanically or incorrectly. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as 'in this there less shops opened', which makes it difficult to track the specific year or trend being discussed. Using clear paragraph breaks to separate the introduction, overview, and body details would significantly improve the logical flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There is a reliance on basic phrasing like 'there are' and 'in the market'. Some word choices are unnatural or incorrect in this context, such as 'huge crack down' to describe a decline in shop openings, or 'fetch' when referring to reading data from a graph. The repetition of 'shops' and 'market' throughout the text limits the lexical range. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise reporting verbs and nouns, such as 'fluctuated', 'plummeted', 'surged', or 'retail outlets'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('there approx 8500 shops are closed'), tense inconsistencies ('which would closed'), and awkward phrasing ('there is less shops opened'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with spaces before commas and periods. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic sentence construction prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on consistent verb tenses and correct article usage would be a beneficial next step.

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

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