Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-09

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 graphs explains the trend of shops opened and closed throughout the 8 years between 2011 and 2018, as the connected line shows that in 2011 number of shops were between 6000 and 7000, which kept on increasing and decresing along the time but in the 2015 the graph line fell under 1000 which is very few shops, but from the 2016 it again get back to almost near to the previous number, yet till 2018 is it not able to reach the 6000 which means with time the number of shops are getting lesser. there was only the time in 2013 when the number has reached its peak that is above 7000.

the disconnected line shows the starting point in 2011 was between 8000 and 9000 but with time it starting getting lower and by the 2018 the numbers decresed to only 3000. overall the closure and opening number has been decreased by 2018 according to the graph.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the two series and mention several relevant features, including the sharp fall in closures in 2015, the closures peak in 2013, and the decline in openings to about 3,000 by 2018. However, the response only partially reports the graph: it does not clearly distinguish the overall patterns or compare the two series across the period. Some details are inaccurate or unclear. Closures did not keep generally increasing and decreasing in a way that supports the claim that shop numbers were “getting lesser”; after the 2015 low, they recovered to around 5,000–5,200. The final statement that both openings and closures decreased by 2018 is too broad, since closures rose slightly from 2017. A clearer overview and more precise comparisons would strengthen the report.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic organisational plan: it first describes the solid line and then the disconnected line, and it uses time markers such as “in 2011,” “in 2015,” and “by 2018.” This helps the reader follow the general subject. However, the first section is a very long sentence containing several trends and conclusions, so the progression is difficult to track. The shift from closures to openings is also not clearly signposted, and the final overview repeats a broad claim rather than drawing the main comparison together. Use separate sentences for key movements and a distinct overview, with clear links such as “By contrast” or “Meanwhile,” to make the organisation more coherent.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant graph vocabulary, including “trend,” “peak,” “fell,” and “decreased,” and the reader can generally understand which series you are describing. However, the range is limited and several expressions are imprecise or awkward, such as “the connected line,” “the disconnected line,” and “get back to almost near to the previous number.” Repetition of “number” and “shops” also makes the description less precise. There are noticeable spelling and word-form errors, including “decresing” and “decresed,” which reduce accuracy. Use standard chart terms such as “solid line” and “dashed line,” and choose precise verbs like “recovered,” “fluctuated,” and “fell sharply” to describe the data.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to connect ideas using clauses and time expressions, but the response relies heavily on long, joined sentences, and errors frequently affect accuracy. For example, “The graphs explains” has a subject–verb agreement error, while “in 2011 number of shops were” is missing an article and has faulty agreement. Verb forms are also inconsistent in “it starting getting lower” and “it again get back.” The sentence beginning “The graphs explains” runs through several separate points without effective punctuation, making the relationships between ideas unclear. Practise accurate simple sentences first, then combine them with controlled clauses; check agreement, articles, and past-tense forms when describing completed data.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.