Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-01

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 7.0)

Thde line graph illustrate the comparison between number of shops closure and new shops opening in one country from 2011 to 2018.

Overall, more new shops than closures where recorded at the beginning of the period. While the number of new shops openings showed an overall downward trend despite some fluctuations, shops closure fluctuated considerably, reaching a low point in 2015 before recovering and remaining relatively stable towards the end of the period.

In 2011, approximately 8,500 new shops opened, compared with around 6,500 shop closures. The number of new openings then fell sharply to nearly 4,000 in 2012 before recovering steadily to around 6,200 by 2014. During the same period, shop closures declined slightly to 6,000 in 2012, rose to about 7,200 in 2013, and then fell back to around 6,500 in 2014.

In 2015, the number of shop closures dropped dramatically to just 500, the lowest figure on the chart. However, this number rebounded sharply to just over 5,000 in 2016 and remained close to this level until 2018. Meanwhile, new shop openings fell to 4,000 in 2015, stayed unchanged until 2017, and then declined further to 3,000 in the final year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear and comprehensive summary of the main features in the line graph. The overview successfully captures the overarching trends, noting that new shop openings showed an overall downward trend while closures fluctuated considerably. Key data points, such as the initial figures in 2011, the dramatic drop in closures in 2015, and the final figures in 2018, are accurately selected and reported. Comparisons between openings and closures are made effectively throughout the body paragraphs. To reach the highest levels, the response could incorporate a slightly more nuanced synthesis of the data, perhaps by more explicitly highlighting the exact crossover points where openings fell below closures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information is grouped sensibly into a four-paragraph structure comprising an introduction, an overview, and two detailed body paragraphs focusing on chronological segments of the graph. Cohesive devices such as 'While', 'During the same period', 'However', and 'Meanwhile' are used appropriately to link ideas and guide the reader smoothly through the trends. Paragraphing is managed effectively, with each paragraph serving a distinct function. To achieve a higher standard, the use of cohesive devices could occasionally be more flexible and varied, ensuring that transitions between complex comparative statements feel entirely natural rather than formulaic.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, demonstrating an attempt to use less common items and functional language appropriate for describing graph data, such as 'downward trend', 'fluctuated considerably', 'fell sharply', and 'dropped dramatically'. However, there are a few lexical and spelling inaccuracies that prevent a higher rating, including a typographical error in the opening sentence ('Thde') and minor inaccuracies in noun-phrase formation, such as 'number of shops closure' instead of 'shop closures'. Word choice is generally clear enough to communicate the intended message without impeding the reader, but greater precision in collocation and careful proofreading for spelling are needed to elevate this aspect.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating a decent command of grammar overall. Sentences such as 'While the number of new shops openings showed an overall downward trend despite some fluctuations, shops closure fluctuated considerably...' showcase complex structural attempts. There are, however, some grammatical errors present, such as an article omission ('number of shops closure' instead of 'the number') and subject-verb agreement issues ('where recorded' instead of 'were recorded'). Punctuation and sentence boundaries are generally well controlled, and the errors present rarely impede communication. To move further up, the writer needs to produce a higher proportion of error-free complex sentences and maintain tighter control over prepositions and articles.

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