Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-22

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 6.5)

The line graph delineates the number of outlets closures and openings in a particular country from 2011 to 2018

Overall, it is apparent that the number of new shops that was opened which was the highest figure in the beginning of the period, fell dramatically at the ending of period. The values of shop closures which was the lowest in the beginning of the period, became the highest at the end of the timeframes. However, there was some fluctuations among them.

First of all, In 2011, the number of new shop openings commenced at around 8,500 which was the highest among others. In the following year, the value had a sharp dip of 4,000 and later recovered to nearly 6,000 in 2014. Subsequently, it fell steadily to 4,000 in 2015 and remained relatively constant in the next two years till it declined to 3,000 in 2018.

Regarding the number of stores closures, the value began at approximately 6,500 in 2011 and had a little fluctuation till around 6,500 in 2014. Afterwards, it decreased substantially to a trough of 500 in 2015. Then, it climbed significantly to just above 5,000 and levelled off in the end of the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by selecting, reporting, and comparing the main features of shop closures and openings between 2011 and 2018. An overview is provided in the second paragraph, capturing the overall trends, such as the inversion of the two figures over the period and the fluctuations present. Key data points are cited accurately from the graph, including the starting figures of around 8,500 openings and 6,500 closures, as well as the significant drop in closures to a trough in 2015. However, there are some minor factual slips in reading the exact values, such as reporting a sharp dip of 4,000 for openings instead of to 4,000, and stating the trough in 2015 was 500 when the graph indicates 600. Despite these minor inaccuracies, the overall response is well-structured and covers the data adequately for a Band 6.5.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement and logical progression, divided logically into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on openings and closures respectively. Cohesive devices are used to link ideas, such as "In the following year", "Subsequently", and "Regarding the number of stores closures". However, there are some mechanical or slightly awkward transitions, and referencing is occasionally faulty, such as the phrase "among them" in the overview where the antecedent is ambiguous. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but overall cohesion lacks the flexibility required for higher bands. The progression of data is easy to follow overall, supporting a solid Band 6.5 placement.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully employing terms such as "delineates", "fluctuations", "substantial", and "trough". However, there are several lexical errors and awkward collocations that detract from precision, such as "outlets closures" instead of "outlet closures", "was opened which was the highest figure", and "stores closures" instead of "store closures". Additionally, some prepositions are misused, such as "at the ending of period" instead of "at the end of the period". These errors do not impede communication, but they restrict the lexical score to a Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and subordinate structures successfully in places, such as "while there was some fluctuations among them" (though subject-verb agreement is flawed here with "was fluctuations"). Grammatical accuracy is mixed; there are noticeable errors in subject-verb agreement ("the number of new shops that was opened"), missing articles ("at the ending of period"), and prepositional usage ("in the end of the period" instead of "at the end"). While complex structures are attempted, frequent minor errors persist throughout the text, placing this response firmly at Band 6.0.

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