Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
The graph shows information about the number of shope that closed and the number of new shops that opened in one country between 2011 and 2018 .
overall , the number of shop closures decrased during the period . The number of new shops alos changed but it ended at a lower level than in 2011 .
In 2011 about 8500 shops colsed while around 6400 new shops opened . The numberof closures fell sharply to about 4000 in 2012 . It then increased to around 4900 in 2013 and about 6000 in 2014 . In comparison , the number of new shop rose to about 7000 in 2013 before falling slightly in 2014.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5
The response makes an attempt to summarise the main features of the graph, identifying general trends such as the decrease in shop closures over the period. However, there are significant issues with data accuracy and interpretation. For instance, the student states that in 2011 about 8500 shops closed while 6400 new shops opened, which inverts the actual data from the chart (where closures were 6,400 and openings were 8,500). Furthermore, the text cuts off mid-development and fails to cover the entire timeframe up to 2018. Crucially, the response falls well short of the minimum 150-word requirement, containing only 114 words. Consequently, these data misinterpretations, incomplete coverage, and severe under-length limit the score to band 4.5.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The writing is divided into short paragraphs, including a basic introduction and a rudimentary overview. There are some cohesive devices used, such as 'overall', 'while', and 'In comparison'. However, the logical progression is hindered by abrupt transitions and the fact that the response stops prematurely. Referencing is sometimes unclear due to inaccurate data reporting, and the overall structural arrangement is underdeveloped. Paragraphing is attempted, but the lack of a fully realized body section and conclusion impacts the overall flow. This performance aligns with band 5.0 descriptors for coherence and cohesion.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The student uses an adequate vocabulary range for a basic description, including words like 'closures', 'opened', 'increased', and 'fell sharply'. However, there are numerous spelling errors throughout the text, such as 'shope' instead of 'shops', 'decrased' instead of 'decreased', 'alos' instead of 'also', and 'colsed' instead of 'closed'. These lexical errors and typos occasionally cause confusion, although communication is generally maintained. The range of vocabulary remains limited and repetitive, which restricts the lexical score to band 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The text displays a mix of simple and some attempted complex sentence forms, such as 'The graph shows information about...'. There are several grammatical and punctuation errors, including spacing issues around punctuation marks (e.g., '2018 .') and verb tense inconsistencies. While some simple sentences are structurally sound, the frequency of basic mechanical errors and the limited control over complex syntactic structures prevent the writing from achieving a higher band. Because errors persist and affect precision, a band score of 5.0 is appropriate.
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.