Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-12

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 5.5)

The line graph compares the number of closed and newly opened shops in some country between the year of 2011 to 2018.

Overall, there is fluctuation in numbers for both shop closures and openings. Generally, more shops are opened in comparision to closed ones.

To begin with the closed ones, the highest figure was recorded for year 2011 in which nearly 8500 were closed. Then the numbers reduced to nearly 4000 followed by increase to approximately 6100 in 2014. After 2014, closure reached plateu for next three consuctive years where the quantity was nearly 4000. Subsequently, reaching the lowest at nearly 3000 number of shops.

Moving forward to newly inaugrated, the highest ones are opened in 2013 where the numbers reached around 7000. The lowest dip was recorded for year 2015, calculated figures were nearly 500. The numbers of opening for next three consuctive years from 2016 to 2018 remains constant nearly 5000

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

The response makes an attempt to summarise both series and includes an overview, but the main features and figures are repeatedly misassigned, so the account only minimally represents the graph. For example, 8,500 openings occurred in 2011, not closures; closures peaked at about 7,200 in 2013, rather than openings; and the lowest closure figure was about 600 in 2015, not 3,000. The claim that openings stayed constant at around 5,000 from 2016 to 2018 is also inaccurate: they were roughly 4,000, 4,200 and 3,000. The overview that openings were generally higher is not supported across the period. Carefully identify each line before selecting key comparisons, and report the sharp 2015 fall in closures accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction and overview are followed by separate paragraphs for closures and openings. Sequencing words such as “To begin with,” “Then,” and “Subsequently” help the reader follow the intended chronology, and the two series are distinguished by paragraph. This coherent structure meets the lower-band expectations and shows some effective progression. However, the transitions “Moving forward to newly inaugurated” and “After 2014” do not always make the relationship between the data points clear, particularly when the figures are inaccurate. The final sentence also ends abruptly without punctuation. To strengthen progression further, use precise references to years and connect comparisons between the two lines, rather than relying mainly on time-sequence markers.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

There is an adequate range of vocabulary for describing a graph, including “fluctuation,” “highest figure,” “reduced,” “increase,” and “lowest dip.” The writer also attempts less common terms such as “inaugurated” and “plateau,” showing some ambition. However, several choices are inaccurate or awkward: “closed ones” is imprecise, “newly inaugurated” is not a natural way to describe shops opening, and “reaching the lowest” lacks a clear subject. Spelling errors such as “comparision,” “plateu,” “consuctive,” and “inaugrated” also weaken control. Use standard graph language consistently, such as “shop closures,” “openings,” “rose,” “fell,” and “remained stable,” and check spelling before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response uses a mixture of simple statements and some more developed structures, including “where the quantity was nearly 4000” and “followed by increase to approximately 6100.” The intended meaning is generally understandable, but grammatical control is uneven. For example, “between the year of 2011 to 2018” has an incorrect preposition pattern, while “the numbers of opening … remains constant” has subject–verb disagreement and an awkward singular/plural construction. “The highest ones are opened in 2013” also uses an unsuitable tense for a completed period, and several sentence fragments begin with “Subsequently, reaching…” or “The lowest dip was recorded…” without a clear grammatical connection. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and complete sentences, while retaining varied structures.

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