Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-13

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 provided line graph describes the number of new stores opened and the existing stores closed in a country between 2011 and 2018.

In early years, the proportion of newly opened shops was more than the closed shops. Although both experienced a rapid downfall in different timestamps, closed shops again rose at the same speed, while new shops gradually increased. The lowest figure was seen in line of closed shops.

Newly opened shops rapidly fell from 85,000 to 4,000 between 2011 and 2012, but again rose to 61,000 in 2014 after graduall increase. In 2018, newly opened shops were showing total of 3,000 after facing upwards and downwards trends.

However, in 2011, the closed shops numbers were 62,000, which fell to 6,000 in 2012. Noticably, closed shops nubmers again rose to 51,000 rapidly in 2016 after falling to lowest figure of 700 in 2015. The closed shops nubmer were more than opend shops showing a figure of 51,000 in 2018.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

The response identifies the two series and includes some relevant comparisons, such as the sharp fall in openings after 2011 and the exceptionally low closure figure in 2015. However, several key figures are substantially misread: openings are reported as 85,000 rather than about 8,500, and closures as 62,000 rather than about 6,400. The account also says closures fell to 6,000 in 2012, when they were about 5,900, and gives 51,000 for 2016 instead of about 5,200. The overview is too vague and includes an inaccurate claim that closures rose at the same speed. Select the main trends accurately, use the chart’s scale consistently, and compare the series across the period.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic structure: an introduction, a brief overview, and separate paragraphs describing openings and closures. This gives the reader some sense of how the information is organised. However, progression is not consistently clear, and the overview’s statements about both series falling and then rising do not accurately prepare the reader for the details. Linking words such as “Although,” “However,” and “Noticably” are used, but some connections are unclear or repetitive. The final sentence returns to 2018 without a clear transition and repeats a figure already discussed. Grouping the main changes by period and using clearer comparisons between the two lines would make the account easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses some relevant chart vocabulary, including “rapidly fell,” “gradually increased,” “lowest figure,” and “upwards and downwards trends.” This shows an attempt to describe movement rather than simply list values. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “proportion” is not suitable for comparing the numbers, “downfall” is awkward for a line graph, and “in different timestamps” is unclear. Spelling errors such as “Noticably,” “nubmers,” and “opend” also reduce precision. Use standard trend language and accurate terms for the quantities, and check spelling carefully so the reader can focus on the data.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

There is some variety in sentence structure, including a complex sentence beginning “Although both experienced…” and a contrast introduced by “However.” Most sentences communicate the intended general meaning, but errors in sentence construction and agreement remain. For example, “the closed shops numbers were” has incorrect word order and agreement, while “The closed shops nubmer were” also mismatches a singular noun with a plural verb. The phrase “were showing total of 3,000” lacks an article and uses an awkward tense construction. Aim for clear, controlled patterns such as “the number of closures was…” and use consistent past-tense reporting. More accurate sentence forms would make the comparisons easier to understand.

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