Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-07
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 given picture shows the the number of shops opened and closed in different areas of city.
The ratio of opened shops shows fluctuations from 8400 to 4000 and again
rise to 6100 and then again decline in ratio to about 3000 in 2018.The number of shops remained open in 2011 in higher ratio.
Similarly the closure of shops show fluctuations from 2011 to 2018 .In 2011 we see about 6100 shops remained close ,then a rise in closure is seemed in to 7100 .The decline in closure of shop is seemed in 2015 with again rise to 5100.
Overall we see the ratio of closure is more then opening .The ratio of closure is more in 2013 about 6100 but then decline occured in this till 2018.Overall the number of shops remained open is high from 2011 to 2018.The ratio in increase and decrease occured but overall situation is not alarming.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5
You identify both shop openings and closures and mention several relevant movements, including the high opening figure in 2011 and a sharp fall in closures in 2015. However, the account only partially reports the graph’s main features, and some comparisons are inaccurate or unclear. For example, closures peak at about 7,200 in 2013, not 6,100, and openings do not rise to 6,100 after 2012; they reach about 5,000 in 2013 and 6,200 in 2014. The statement that closures are generally higher than openings is also not supported across the period. The overview should accurately summarise the contrasting trends and key extremes, with selected figures used to support them.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response has a basic sequence: it first discusses openings, then closures, and ends with an overall comment. This gives the reader some organisation, and phrases such as “Similarly” and “Overall” signal transitions. However, the progression is weakened by repeated overall statements and by ideas that are difficult to follow, such as “The ratio in increase and decrease occured.” Some sentences combine several movements without clear time links, while the opening and closing comments do not provide a consistent summary. Use a clearer paragraph structure—an overview followed by one paragraph for each series—and connect each figure explicitly to its year. This would make the comparisons easier to track.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use some relevant graph vocabulary, including “fluctuations,” “rise,” “decline,” and “ratio,” so the reader can recognise the general subject. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing shop counts. “Ratio” is repeatedly used where “number” or “figure” is needed, and “shops remained close” does not clearly mean shops closed. Expressions such as “the ratio of closure is more then opening” also make comparisons hard to understand. Aim for precise terms such as “shop closures,” “shop openings,” “rose to,” and “fell to,” and avoid repeating the same general words. Check spelling and word forms, including “than” rather than “then.”
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response communicates its general topic through mostly simple sentence patterns, with occasional attempts to link ideas using “then” and “but.” However, the range is limited, and frequent errors in sentence construction and punctuation sometimes make relationships unclear. Examples include “The number of shops remained open in 2011 in higher ratio,” where the comparison structure is incomplete, and “The decline in closure of shop is seemed in 2015,” which has an incorrect verb pattern. There are also agreement and article problems, as in “closure of shops show fluctuations,” and missing spaces after full stops. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and straightforward comparative sentences before attempting longer constructions.
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