Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-21
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)
The graps below shows the number of shops that closed and the number of new shops that opened in one country between 2011 and 2018.
overall, the numbers of new shops opened decrease over the period , while shop closures changes more dramatically. The bigges number of openings was in 2011, whereas the lowest number of closures was recorded in 2015.
In 2011, about 8,500 new shops opened, compared with around 6,400 shops that closed. In 2012, openings fell sharply to approximately 3,900, while closures decreased slightly to 5,900. After that, the number of new shops increased to 5,000 in 2013 and about 6,000 in 2014. During the same period, closures rose to 7,200 before falling to 6,000.
in 2015, shops closures dropped dramatic to only about 700, while around while around 4,000 new shops opened. Closures then increased to 5,200 in 2016 and remained close to this level until 2018.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The student attempts to cover the main features of the graph, identifying key trends such as the overall decrease in openings and the fluctuating closures, alongside citing specific data points like the opening peak in 2011 and the lowest closures in 2015. However, there are some inaccuracies in the reported figures, such as stating closures dropped to 'about 700' in 2015 when the chart shows approximately 600, and a misreading of the 2014 closures. Additionally, the opening overview sentence has a typo and copies part of the prompt. While the main features are touched upon, the lack of precision and under-development of comparisons place this response at Band 5.5.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into logical paragraphs, beginning with an introduction and overview, moving into body details, and concluding with the final years. Cohesive devices are used to sequence events chronologically, such as 'In 2011', 'In 2012', 'After that', and 'During the same period'. However, referencing and cohesion are sometimes faulty or mechanical, such as the awkward repetition in 'while around while around 4,000 new shops opened'. Paragraphing is present and generally appropriate, but the overall progression of ideas feels a bit mechanical rather than fluidly integrated. This aligns well with the Band 6 descriptors.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully employing terms related to data trends such as 'decrease', 'fluctuate', 'fell sharply', and 'rose'. However, there are noticeable spelling and word-choice errors, including 'graps' instead of 'graphs', 'bigges' instead of 'biggest', and 'dramatic' instead of 'dramatically'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with some inaccuracy, which occasionally distracts the reader. These limitations are characteristic of a Band 5.5 performance.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, using time clauses and comparative structures effectively in sentences like 'In 2011, about 8,500 new shops opened, compared with around 6,400 shops that closed.' However, grammatical errors are frequent, particularly with subject-verb agreement ('numbers of new shops opened decrease', 'shop closures changes'), missing capitalization at the start of sentences (' overall'), and word form errors ('shops closures dropped dramatic'). These errors can occasionally cause minor difficulty, though they do not completely impede communication, supporting a Band 5.5 score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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