Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-04
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 illustrates the amount of shops shut down and new shops that opened from 2011 to 2018 in one nation.
In the graph the number of shop openings from 2011 to 2012 dramatically fall almost half, but number of shop closures is still constant. However, between 2012 and 2014 shop openings significantly rise from 4000 to above 6000, one the other hand, shop closures slightly increase.
From 2014 to 2015 the number of shop closures sharply decrease from 6500 to 500 but in 2016 it increase again to 5200 and the number of shop openings slightly fall and also in 2016 its remain same. In 2017 to 2018 the number of closures still same however, shop openings drop between 4000 and 3000. As compare from the begaining to end the number of shop openings continuously falling but the number of shop closures sharply fall in the middle but at the end it little bit down.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
The response addresses the task only partially. While the student attempts to report the main features of the graph, some of the data points described are inaccurate or unclear, such as the claim that shop closures dropped to 500 in 2015 when the graph shows a drop to 600, or the confusing description of trends at the end of the period. Furthermore, there is no clear overview provided to summarise the overall trends across the seven years. To reach a higher level, the writer needs to ensure greater accuracy when reporting data figures and include a distinct, well-summarised overview outlining the main overarching trends of both shop openings and closures.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
There is some basic organisation in the text, but it lacks clear overall progression. The response is essentially a single dense body paragraph combined with a brief opening sentence, making the structural layout inadequate for a standard academic report. Cohesive devices are used repetitively or inaccurately, such as 'one the other hand' and 'As compare from the begaining to end', which causes mechanical transitions between ideas. Referencing is also occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the logical development of data points. To improve, the student should structure the essay into logical paragraphs, including an introduction, an overview, and separate body paragraphs for specific comparisons, while utilizing a wider and more accurate range of cohesive links.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is limited and minimally adequate for the task. The student relies on basic terms such as 'amount of shops', 'shut down', and 'fall', repeating them frequently throughout the response. There are also noticeable lexical errors and spelling mistakes, including 'begaining', 'its remain same', and 'little bit down', which detract from the overall quality of the writing and can occasionally cause confusion for the reader. To achieve a higher score, the student should incorporate a broader range of academic vocabulary and precise collocations related to data trends, such as 'decline', 'fluctuate', and 'commence', while ensuring correct spelling and word formation.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The writer demonstrates a limited range of sentence structures, relying mostly on simple sentences or attempts at complex forms that are frequently faulty. There are persistent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues like 'number of shop closures is still constant' and 'number of shop closures sharply decrease', as well as incorrect prepositions and missing articles. These frequent errors cause some difficulty for the reader and impede the flow of information. To progress, the student must exercise better control over basic grammatical structures, paying closer attention to subject-verb agreement, tense consistency when describing past data, and accurate prepositional use.
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