Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 provided line chart illustrates the change of stores that closed and new stores that opened in a nation from 2011 to 2018.

Overall, over the 8-year period, while closed stores experienced a fluctuation, new stores that opened saw a general downward trend. Additionally, Closed stores surpassed the opened stored at the end of the period.

Looking at the details, Closed stores stood at about 6500 shops in 2011. Over the next four years, the trend displayed a fluctuation and resulted in 6600 shops in 2014, before dropping to a low of 500 shops in 2015. it then recovered and surpassed the new opened store at approximately 5100 shops in the final year.

Regarding the new stores that just opened,it began at about 8500 shops in 2011, before dropping to 4000 shops in 2012. the trajectory then showed an increase over the next two years to a high of just above 6000 shops. It then continued to display a decline until the end of 2018 to about 3000 shops.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features, trends, and comparisons between shop closures and openings from 2011 to 2018. An overview is included, highlighting the general downward trend for new stores and the fluctuation of closures, as well as the crossover point at the end of the period. Key data points are accurately identified and reported, such as the initial figures in 2011 and the dramatic drop in closures in 2015. However, there is a minor misreading of the 2015 closure figure (reported as 500 when the chart shows approximately 600, though this falls within acceptable data interpretation variance) and a minor typo regarding 2014 closures (6600 instead of 6500). Despite these minor inaccuracies, the response covers the visual data well, supporting a Band 7.0 score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into four distinct paragraphs, following a logical structure with an introduction, an overall summary, and two body paragraphs detailing closures and openings respectively. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well, with phrases like 'Overall', 'Looking at the details', and 'Regarding the new stores' guiding the reader through the text. However, paragraphing and referencing can be slightly improved, and the mechanical transition between sentences occasionally detracts from natural flow. For instance, the second paragraph abruptly shifts between trends without smooth integration. There are also capitalization issues that disrupt the cohesive flow. Overall, the organizational structure is clear and provides a logical progression, fitting Band 6.5 descriptors.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for an Academic Task 1 response, employing terms such as 'fluctuation', 'downward trend', 'trajectory', and 'surpassed'. However, there are instances of lexical inaccuracy and awkward collocation, such as 'new opened store' instead of 'newly opened stores' or 'store openings', and 'closed stores' used repetitively where 'shop closures' is more appropriate. Spelling is generally accurate, but capitalization errors occur mid-sentence (e.g., 'Closed stores'). The vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main ideas clearly, but the lack of more sophisticated phrasing and occasional awkward word choices limit the score to a Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing introductory subordinate clauses such as 'while closed stores experienced a fluctuation, new stores that opened saw a general downward trend' and 'before dropping to a low'. There are, however, several grammatical errors and punctuation issues, including lowercase letters at the beginning of sentences ('the provided line chart...', 'it then recovered...'), missing spaces after punctuation marks, and awkward phrasing ('the new opened store'). While these errors do not severely impede communication, they recur frequently enough to prevent the response from achieving a higher band. The control over grammar is adequate for a Band 6.0.

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