Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-14

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 line chart illustrates the number of shops that closed and the number of new shops that opened in one country between 2011 and 2018.

Overall, It is noticed that in earlier time period, the number of new shops that opend were higest comperd to the number of shops that closed but the trend shows complet turn around in later period of time.

In 2011, around 8500 new shops were opend but the number drastically decreased to 4000 in following year. Then started to increas slowly in 2013 and reached 5000 and 6000 in 2014. While the number of shops that closed in 2011 was 6300 which reached to it's peak in 2013 with the mark of 7000 shops. In 2014 both number were almost same. Then the number for shops that closed faced sudden drop and come close to 500 whcih was the lowest number and then reamin stable in following years. The number of new shops that opend in 2015 was 4000 and reamin stable till 2017 and decreased to 3000 in 2018.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify both series and report several important figures, including the opening peak of about 8,500 in 2011 and the sharp fall in closures in 2015. However, the overview is unclear and partly inaccurate: openings were higher than closures only in 2011 and 2015, rather than generally in the earlier period, and closures did not remain stable after their 2015 low—they rose sharply to about 5,200 in 2016. The response also omits the later comparison that closures exceeded openings from 2016 to 2018. To strengthen the report, give a precise overview of the contrasting trends and select the key turning points and end-of-period relationship.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and a paragraph describing the figures. Sequencing words such as “Then” and “In 2014” help the reader follow the timeline. However, the overview’s claim about a “complete turn around” is not clearly explained, and the main paragraph moves between openings and closures without consistently grouping or comparing them. Some links are also awkward, as in “While the number of shops that closed…” followed by a separate sentence. Organise the details into clearer comparisons—for example, describe the opening figures together, then the closure figures and their relationship—using linking phrases that show contrast and change.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “drastically decreased,” “reached to it’s peak,” and “sudden drop,” so the reader can understand the main movements. However, the range is limited and several word choices or forms are inaccurate, which makes parts of the report less clear. “Turn around” is vague for describing the relationship between the two series, while “remained stable” is repeated and does not accurately describe closures after 2015. Spelling errors such as “opend,” “higest,” “comperd,” and “whcih” are noticeable. Aim for precise trend language and check spelling and collocations; for example, use “fell sharply” and “recovered” where they match the data.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast clause beginning “While” and a sequence of changes linked with “Then.” However, complex constructions are often faulty, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences difficult to read. Examples include “the number … were higest,” where the subject and verb do not agree, and “Then started to increas slowly,” which lacks a clear subject. The sentence beginning “Then the number for shops that closed faced sudden drop and come close to 500” also shifts verb forms and has an incomplete article pattern. Practise building complete sentences with a clear subject, consistent past tense, and accurate articles and agreement.

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