Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 graph illustrates the figure of shops that closed and the number of new shops that opened in one country during 2011 and 2018.

Overall, the number of both shops that are closed and opened approximately same in 2014.

The line graph shows the number of shops that are opened in 2011 was about 7,000 then in 2012 the number of opening shops shows significant decline only 4,000 shops were opened in 2012 from 2012 to 2014 its number were gradually boosts and stands at just above 6,000 then in 2015 its numbers remain faced decline from 2015 to 2016 its number rate approximately remains same. In 2018 the number of opened shops was faced its lowest peak point and touches the figure of 3,000.

According to line graph, in 2011 around 6,500 shops were closed then in 2012 its number was slightly decreased just below the figure of 6,000 then in 2013 above 7,000 shops were openend and it is its peak point after a small decline in 2014 the proportion of opened shops shows a rapid decline and stands below 1,000 then in the running year in 2016 its ratio remain shows significant rose and cross the line of 5,000 in after two years its ratio remained same and 2018 its ratio stable just above 5,000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

The response identifies both series and reports several broad movements, including the sharp fall in closures in 2015 and the low point for openings in 2018. However, important figures are repeatedly inaccurate: openings in 2011 were about 8,500, not 7,000, and closures in 2015 fell to about 600, not a figure clearly described as below 1,000 after a 2014 decline. The overview is also too limited: saying the series were approximately the same in 2014 does not summarise the main overall pattern, such as the sharp fluctuation in closures and the general fall in openings. Some comparisons and trends are unclear or mislabelled, so the task is addressed only minimally. Prioritise an accurate overview and select a few reliable comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic structure: an introduction, a brief overview, and separate descriptions of openings and closures. This gives the reader some sense of how the information is grouped. However, progression within the body paragraphs is difficult to follow, especially in the long sentences that combine several years and changes. For example, the openings paragraph moves from 2011 through 2016 and then 2018 without clear sentence boundaries or a precise account of the intervening trend. Linking phrases such as “then” and “after” are repeated, and references such as “its number” are not always clear. Use shorter sentences, organise each series chronologically, and make comparisons explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses some relevant chart vocabulary, including “significant decline,” “peak point,” “rapid decline,” and “stable,” showing an attempt to describe change rather than simply list figures. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, which sometimes makes the intended trend difficult to understand. Phrases such as “its number were gradually boosts,” “lowest peak point,” and “its ratio remained same” are not natural ways to describe the data. There is also a spelling error in “openend.” Build a reliable set of trend expressions and use them precisely: for example, “rose gradually,” “reached a low,” and “remained stable.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

There are attempts to connect clauses and describe changes over time, but the response relies heavily on long, loosely joined sentences, and errors are frequent enough to make some relationships unclear. Examples include “the number of shops that are opened in 2011 was,” “its number were gradually boosts,” and “its ratio remain shows significant rose.” These show problems with tense, subject–verb agreement, verb forms, and sentence construction. Articles and prepositions are also sometimes missing or awkward, as in “during 2011 and 2018.” Use past-tense forms consistently for the completed period and check that each sentence has a clear subject and correctly formed verb. Breaking the final long sentence into shorter units would improve accuracy and readability.

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