Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-29
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 7.5)
The line graph compares the number of shops that closed and the number of new shops that opened in one country from 2011 to 2018.
Overall, shop openings showed a downward trend, while closures changed considerably during the period. The number of closures reachhed a peak in 2013, then fell sharply in 2015 before recovering.
In 2011, about 8,500 new shops opened, compared with approximately 6,400 closures. The number of openings then fell to 4,000 in 2012 ,before rising gradually to around 6,000 in 2014. After that, it dropped again to about 4,000 in 2015 and remained at this level in 2016. It increased slightly to roughly 4,200 in 2017, but fell to 3,000 in 2018.
The number of shop closures was about 6,400 in 2011 and decreased slightly to 5,900 in 2012. It then rose to a high of around 7,200 in 2013 before falling to 6,500 in 2014. In 2015, closures dropped dramatically to only about 500. However, they recoverd to approximately 5,200 in 2016 and stayed close to 5,000 in 2017 and 2018.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0
The student successfully covers all parts of the task by providing a clear overview of the main trends and selecting key data points to report and compare. The opening trend is well-identified as downward, and closures are accurately described as fluctuating significantly. The candidate appropriately notes the dramatic drop in shop closures in 2015 down to around 500, and captures the peak in closures in 2013 at approximately 7,200. Figures are accurately referenced from the chart, showing a strong grasp of the visual data. The response meets all core requirements for Task Achievement, presenting a well-developed and focused summary without omitting major features.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5
The writing demonstrates a clear logical progression and organization throughout. Information is grouped sensibly, with the overview in the second paragraph followed by detailed body paragraphs dedicated to openings and closures respectively. Cohesive devices such as 'while', 'then', 'After that', and 'However' are used effectively to link ideas and guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different categories of information. Although cohesion is mostly well managed, minor mechanical transitions occasionally appear, preventing it from reaching the highest band.
Lexical Resource: Band 7.0
The student employs a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms related to data trends such as 'downward trend', 'fluctuated', 'peak', 'rise gradually', and 'dropped dramatically'. There are occasional spelling and lexical slips, such as 'reachhed' instead of 'reached' and 'recoverd' instead of 'recovered', but these do not impede communication. Less common vocabulary items are attempted with some awareness of style and collocation, making the response clear and easy to follow.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5
The student demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including dependent clauses and comparative constructions (e.g., 'The line graph compares...', 'In 2011, about 8,500 new shops opened, compared with approximately 6,400 closures.'). Grammatical control is generally strong, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Punctuation is mostly accurate, though minor mechanical errors occur, such as a stray space before a comma ('2012 ,before'). Overall, the grammatical range is adequate for a solid score at this level.
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