Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-06

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 6.5)

The line graph illustrates the total number of shop closures and new openings of shops in a certain country during 2011 and 2018.

Overall, the total number of shops closing and opening fluctuated and decreased throughout the period. A large number of shops closed in 2013, and very few shops closed in 2015. Openings of a large number of stores dominated in 2011, with a small number of openings in 2018.

In 2011, around 6300 shops were closed, followed by 6000 shops in 2012. This number increased to more than 7000 closures of shops in 2013. However, less than 1000 shops were closed in 2015. This number rose to more than 5000 and remained stable till 2018.

The largest number of shops, more than 8000, were opened in 2011. This number declined to around 4000 shops in 2012. Shops opened slightly more than 6000 in 2014 and again fell to 4000 shop openings in 2015. This number stood the same before falling to 3000 shops in 2018.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response covers all parts of the task by reporting the main features and making relevant comparisons between shop closures and openings over the period. However, some ideas and details are under-developed or inaccurately reported. For instance, the student states that less than 1000 shops were closed in 2015, whereas the actual figure was around 600, and misses key trends such as the dramatic drop in 2015 for closures. Nevertheless, a clear overview is provided, satisfying the requirements for this level while stopping short of fully developed data selection.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay presents a coherent overall arrangement with a logical progression of ideas. It is divided into appropriate paragraphs, starting with an introduction and overview, followed by separate body paragraphs for closures and openings. Cohesion within and between sentences is generally maintained, though some cohesive devices feel slightly mechanical or repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'This number'. Referencing is mostly clear, but the transitional phrasing could be smoother to push into higher bands.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully conveying basic trends using words like 'fluctuated', 'decreased', and 'dominated'. The writer attempts some less common vocabulary such as 'closures' and 'openings', though there are occasional inaccuracies in word choice and phrasing, such as 'new openings of shops' or 'Shops opened slightly more than 6000'. Spelling and word formation are generally accurate, and errors do not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms, showcasing solid control over grammar and punctuation. There is a variety of sentence structures used to report the data, such as 'In 2011, around 6300 shops were closed, followed by 6000 shops in 2012.' While some minor errors persist in prepositions and passive constructions, such as 'Shops opened slightly more than 6000', the majority of sentences are grammatically sound and errors rarely impede communication, reflecting a strong command of grammatical structures.

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