Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-13

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 5.0)

Tha line graph showing data of the number of shops were closing and opening in one particular country from 2011 to 2018.

Overall, by the analysing data trend showing highest to lower in both categories in which, the lowest number of closing shope in 2015. While highest numbers of shops opened in 2011.

By the analysing categorie of number of shops were close, in 2011 total number of shops close it was around 6500 shops in this category it wast highest number, after two years it was slightly decrease than again grow and reach at 7000 shops closed in 2013. Again after two years, it wast strongly gose down and in 2015 lowest number of shops were closed. In 2016 again it was increase til the 2018.

To compete with closing shop data in the 2011 total number of shops were open it was above 8000 shops. For next year, it was drastically reduced and moved to 4000 shops. After 2012, it was constantly increase till 2014, than again come back to 4000 shops were open in 2016. Lastly, to was minor increase than ramain un change for the 2018.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to summarise the data by identifying key trends and specific figures for shop closures and openings between 2011 and 2018. However, the student fails to form a complete introductory sentence, starting with 'Tha line graph showing...' which lacks a main verb. While the main features, such as the peak in openings in 2011 and the lowest closures in 2015, are mentioned, the lack of a clear, overarching overview and the frequent descriptive errors prevent the response from achieving a higher band. Data points are sometimes inaccurate or awkwardly expressed, limiting the development of ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is divided into paragraphs, which helps establish a basic structure separating the overview, closures, and openings. However, the progression of ideas is frequently disrupted by poor cohesive devices and awkward transitions such as 'To compete with closing shop data'. Cohesive devices are sometimes inaccurate or overused, and referencing is often unclear. Paragraphing is attempted, but internal cohesion is weak, leading to a disjointed reading experience that fits the Band 5 descriptor.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The student uses basic vocabulary related to the task, such as 'shops', 'closed', 'opened', 'increase', and 'decrease'. There are noticeable lexical errors and non-standard word choices throughout the text, including 'shope', 'ategorie', 'constantly increase', and 'ramain un change'. The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive, with several spelling errors ('Tha', 'til', 'ramain'). These errors do not entirely impede communication, but they cause difficulty for the reader, placing the response firmly at Band 5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5

The grammatical range is severely limited, relying mostly on simple or faulty complex sentences. There are frequent, heavy grammatical errors throughout the response, such as missing finite verbs in the introduction ('Tha line graph showing...'), incorrect verb tenses ('was slightly decrease', 'wast strongly gose down'), and awkward prepositional usage. Punctuation is also problematic. These frequent errors cause significant difficulty for the reader and demonstrate poor control over basic sentence structures.

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