Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-20
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 following line graph illustrates the total number of new shops being opened while also highlighting the total number of shopping places being closed in a nation between 2011 to 2018.
Overall, the number of new shops has significantly decreased over the years while the shutting down of old stores only have a marginal fall. Furthermore, fluctuations have been seen in the number of both shops.
Looking at the graph in more detail, the number of new stores being opned slumped from roughly 8,500 in 2011 to 4,000 in 2012. Although, the number had inclined from 2012 to 2014 reaching approximately 6,000, it dropped again in 2015 reaching 4,000 new shops again. After being roughly constant between 2015 to 2017, the number decreased again at the end of 2018 reaching 3,000 shops.
Regarding the shops thet closed during this time, the number slightly decreased to 6,000 in 2012 as compared to approximately 6,400 back in 2011. Despite the number of shops being closed rose in 2013, it began to decrease and slumped in 2015 reaching about 800 shops in total. After 2015, the shops started to close again reaching about 5,100 shops in 2016. The number became roughly constant maintaining the number around 5,000 until 2018.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The student covers all parts of the task well, selecting and reporting the main features of the line graph while making relevant comparisons. An overview is provided, noting the general downward trend in new shops and the relative stability or minor fall in closures, alongside fluctuations. However, there are a couple of notable factual inaccuracies regarding the data. For instance, the student states that shop closures slumped in 2015 reaching about 800 shops, whereas the graph clearly shows closures dropping dramatically to around 600 in 2015 before returning to over 5,000 in 2016. Furthermore, the phrasing regarding shop openings in 2012 ('slumped from roughly 8,500 in 2011 to 4,000 in 2012') is generally accurate, but these minor misreadings prevent a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response is logically organised with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introductory statement, moves to an overview paragraph, and then divides the detailed body paragraphs effectively between new shop openings and shop closures. Paragraphing is used appropriately. Cohesive devices are employed reasonably well to guide the reader through the data, such as 'Looking at the graph in more detail', 'Regarding the shops', and 'Despite the number of shops being closed rose'. However, referencing and transitions are occasionally slightly mechanical or clumsy, such as 'Although, the number had inclined', which slightly disrupts the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary for this task, using terms such as 'illustrates', 'fluctuations', 'constant', and 'approximately'. There are some attempts to use less common vocabulary like 'slumped' and 'marginal fall'. However, there are several word choice and collocation inaccuracies throughout the text, such as 'shopping places being closed' instead of 'shop closures', 'inclined' instead of 'increased' or 'risen', and 'the shops thet closed' (spelling error). These lexical slips and minor inaccuracies keep the score at a solid Band 6.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating subordinate clauses effectively (e.g., 'Although, the number had inclined from 2012 to 2014 reaching approximately 6,000, it dropped again...'). There are, however, several grammatical errors and awkward structures present. For instance, 'the shutting down of old stores only have a marginal fall' contains a subject-verb agreement error ('have' instead of 'has'), and 'Despite the number of shops being closed rose' is grammatically incorrect. Punctuation is generally acceptable, but these persistent errors occasionally distract from the otherwise satisfactory range of structures.
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.