Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-26
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 line graph illustrates the change in the number of shop closers and new shop openings in a specific country between 2011 and 2018
overall, the data indicates that both shop openings and closures showed a fluctuating tren throughout the period. Additonaly, the number of closed shops experienced a dramatic decrease in the middle of the period.
In 2011, new shop openings stood approximately 8500, outhnumering closers,which were st roughly 6400,However openings plummeted to arround 4000 in 2012 before steading rising to reach a peak of about 6000 in 2014. meanwhile closures experienced mirror flucutions rising to a peak of 7000 in 2013 before falling back to arrounof the period d 6100 in 2014 matching rate of openings.
A striking divergence occured in 2015, when the number of shop closures plunged dramatically to a low of nearly 500, while openings fell to approximately 4000 from 2015 onward openings remained relatively stable before dropping to 3000 in 2018 conversely, closures rebounded sharping in 2016 to arround 5000 and maintain a steady level between 45000 and 5000 untill the end
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 covers all key features of the prompt by reporting on shop closures and openings between 2011 and 2018. An overview is provided, highlighting the fluctuating trend and the dramatic drop in closures. Key data points are cited, such as the starting figures in 2011 and the striking divergence in 2015 when closures plunged to around 500. However, there are some minor inaccuracies and awkward phrasing in reporting specific intermediate figures, such as 'st roughly 6400' or 'arrounof the period d 6100'. Nevertheless, the main trends and comparisons are successfully captured, satisfying the criteria for a Band 6.5 or solid 6.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response is arranged logically into four paragraphs, including an introduction, an overall statement, and two body paragraphs covering the timeline chronologically. Cohesive devices and time markers like 'In 2011', 'meanwhile', 'A striking divergence occurred', and 'conversely' are used to guide the reader through the data. However, referencing and punctuation are sometimes faulty, such as missing capitalisation at the start of sentences and incomplete final sentences (e.g. ending abruptly with 'untill the end'). Paragraphing is present, but logical progression is occasionally hindered by punctuation and run-on phrasing.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary for the task, attempting less common lexical items such as 'fluctuating', 'plummeted', 'divergence', and 'rebounded'. However, there are multiple spelling and word choice errors throughout the text, including 'closers' instead of 'closures', 'tren' instead of 'trend', 'Additonaly', 'outhnumering', 'arround', 'steading', 'flucutions', 'arrounof', and 'sharping'. These errors do not impede communication since the overall meaning remains clear, but they restrict the lexical score to a Band 5.5 or 6.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating subordinate clauses and participle phrases like 'outnumbering closers, which were at roughly 6400'. However, grammatical accuracy is undermined by frequent slips, missing punctuation, missing articles, and run-on sentences. Examples include lowercase beginnings to sentences ('overall, the data...'), missing verbs or prepositions ('stood approximately 8500'), and an incomplete final sentence ('maintain a steady level between 45000 and 5000 untill the end'). Control over complex structures is inconsistent, placing this performance firmly in the Band 5.5 to 6 range.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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