Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-19

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 8.5)

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

Overall, shop openings were highest at the very start of the period but declined overall by 2018, while shop closures, despite an overall slight decline, remained generally higher than openings for most of the period. The most striking feature is the sharp, temporary collapse in closures in 2015, when the number fell to just 600, briefly dropping below openings before rebounding strongly.

In 2011, the number of new shops opened stood at 8,500, the highest figure in the entire chart, before falling sharply to 4,000 in 2012. It then rose gradually to 5,000 in 2013 and 6,200 in 2014, before dipping slightly to 4,000 in 2015. Openings remained broadly stable through 2016 and 2017, at around 4,000 and 4,200 respectively, before declining again to 3,000 by 2018, the lowest figure for openings across the period.

Shop closures followed a very different trajectory. Starting at 6,400 in 2011, below the number of openings that year, closures dipped slightly to 5,900 in 2012 before rising to a peak of 7,200 in 2013 and remaining high at around 6,500 in 2014. In 2015, however, closures collapsed dramatically to just 600, the lowest point in the entire chart, temporarily falling below openings. This was followed by a sharp recovery to 5,200 in 2016, after which closures remained relatively stable, ending at 5,200 in 2018 still higher than the number of shops opened that year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The candidate has fully and accurately addressed all parts of the task. A clear overview is provided in the second paragraph, highlighting the main trends and the striking anomaly in 2015. Key features of both shop openings and closures are selected, reported, and compared effectively throughout the text. The data cited (such as the peak of closures at 7,200 in 2013 and the collapse to 600 in 2015) precisely matches the visual reference provided. There are no omissions of major trends, and the comparisons between openings and closures are well integrated, demonstrating an accomplished approach to Task 1.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is exceptionally well-organized, demonstrating a clear and logical progression from introduction to overview, followed by well-defined body paragraphs dedicated to each series. Cohesive devices such as 'while', 'despite', 'however', and 'this was followed by' are used flexibly and naturally without being mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct aspects of the data. Reference words (such as 'It', 'This') are managed skillfully, ensuring that the flow of information remains smooth and unambiguous throughout the entire response.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

The student employs a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Less common and precise items such as 'trajectory', 'collapse', 'rebounding strongly', and 'anomaly' are used with a strong awareness of style and collocation. Word choices are precise, and there are virtually no lexical errors. The vocabulary allows the writer to convey precise nuances of the trends depicted in the graph, reflecting a very high level of lexical control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response displays a wide range of complex sentence structures used with full flexibility and accuracy. Clauses are integrated smoothly, as seen in sentences like 'Overall, shop openings were highest at the very start of the period but declined overall by 2018, while shop closures... remained generally higher than openings'. Punctuation is handled expertly, and the vast majority of sentences are completely error-free, with only rare, negligible slips if any. Grammatical control is sustained at a very high standard throughout.

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