Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

This graph provides information of seven years on shops opening and closing in one country. It also compares with each other throughout seven year. The traced line on graph provides the information for shops that are closed and the other one is for opened ones.

In 2012, the opening rate falls from 8500 to 4000 and it is considered as one of the major decrease in these seven years. After that it gradually increase and the figure stop around 6000.

On the other hand, the closing figure of shops decreases in 2014 from 6500 to 900. It is also considered as one of the major decline in shops closing since 2014.After that it rises and stands arounf 5000 in 2018.

In conclusion, the figure of opening shops is higher than the closing shops in these seven years in one country.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

The response identifies the two series and mentions some relevant movements, including the sharp fall in openings in 2012 and the steep drop in closures in 2015. However, several figures and trends are inaccurate: openings fell to about 3,900 in 2012, not 4,000 exactly, and rose only to around 6,200 in 2014; closures dropped to about 600 in 2015, not 900. The conclusion that openings were higher than closures throughout is incorrect: closures exceeded openings in several years, including 2012 and 2013. The overview is therefore misleading, and important features such as the 2013 peak in closures and the overall decline in openings are omitted. The response also falls 10 words short of the required minimum. Add a clear, accurate overview and support it with the main comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic paragraph structure: an introduction, two paragraphs describing the series, and a conclusion. This gives the reader some organisation, and phrases such as “On the other hand” signal a contrast. However, progression is limited because the account is divided by series without clearly comparing their movements, and the final conclusion repeats a claim that is not supported by the data. Some linking is mechanical or unclear, as in “After that” in both detail paragraphs, while “It also compares with each other” does not clearly explain what is being compared. Group the key trends in a more purposeful order, use precise references to years and figures, and connect comparisons directly rather than relying on repeated transition phrases.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the general subject and some changes, with terms such as “falls,” “decreases,” “major decline,” and “rises.” However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or awkward for describing a line graph. “Opening rate” and “closing figure of shops” are imprecise, while “the figure stop around 6000” does not express the trend naturally. There are also spelling and form errors, including “arounf,” and repeated use of “figure” and “shops.” Use standard graph language consistently, such as “the number of shop openings,” “fell sharply,” “reached a peak,” and “stood at.” This would make the description clearer and more precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response uses mostly simple sentence patterns, with a few attempts to combine ideas using “and” and “after that.” Errors are frequent enough to make some sentences awkward or unclear. For example, “This graph provides information of seven years on shops opening and closing” has an incorrect grammatical pattern, and “it gradually increase” has a subject–verb agreement error. “The figure stop” also needs a past-tense verb, while “the figure of opening shops is higher than the closing shops” has an unclear comparison structure. Punctuation is inconsistent, particularly in “since 2014.After that.” Practise accurate past-tense reporting and comparison structures, and check agreement, articles, and sentence boundaries. A wider range of correctly controlled sentences would improve clarity.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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