Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The multi-linear line chart illustrates the amount of shops that closed and compares it with the number of shops that open in a nation within a time frame of 7 years from 2011 till 2018.

Overall, the amount of new shops opening per year were exponentially more at the start of the time period but eventually it got dominated till the end of the time period by the rate of shops closing every year.

At the start of the time frame, 8500 shops were opening each year but it saw an exponential decrease within a year and dropped to more than half at 4000, then for the next two years the trend gradually increased before dropping back again in 2015, which then plateaued for a year only to end at the lowest of all time at 2018 with only 3000 new shops opening each year.

In contrast, at the start of the time frame, the number of shops being closed every year were lower comparatively with around 6300 shops, the trend saw a gradual decrease the next year but increased to an all time high in 2013 with more than 7000 shops closing each year. However, the trend then dropped exponentially in the next two year to less than 1000 shops in 2015. In 2018, the number of shops closing dominated the number of shops opening with more than 5000 shops closing every year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the two series and give a clear broad comparison: openings begin higher, while closures finish above openings. Several key figures are also reported accurately, including about 8,500 openings in 2011, the closure peak above 7,000 in 2013, and openings falling to 3,000 in 2018. However, some important details are unclear or inaccurate. Openings fell to about 3,900 in 2012, not 4,000 after “more than half,” and closures did not drop across the next two years: they fell sharply to about 600 in 2015, after being around 6,500 in 2014. The overview’s claim that openings were “exponentially more” at the start is also imprecise. Select the main turning points and describe them precisely to make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response is organised into an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for openings and closures. This gives the reader a clear route through the information, and transitions such as “Overall” and “In contrast” help signal the comparison. The chronological sequence within each series is generally easy to follow. Some linking and reference could be more precise: “the trend” is repeated and can refer vaguely to either the number or the line, while “which then plateaued” makes the subject of the clause less clear. The overview also repeats the idea of the time period rather than summarising the main pattern concisely. Use clearer subjects such as “the figure for openings” and connect the two series directly when their trends diverge.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a reasonable range of vocabulary for describing trends, including “gradually increased,” “plateaued,” “dropped,” and “all-time high.” These choices make the main movements understandable, and the response attempts more descriptive language. However, some expressions are imprecise or unnatural for chart reporting. “Exponentially more” does not accurately describe a simple comparison, and “dominated” is an awkward way to say that closures outnumbered openings. “Amount of shops” is also less suitable for countable items, and “within a time frame of 7 years” is unnecessarily wordy. Aim for precise, conventional collocations such as “the number of shops,” “fell sharply,” and “was higher than.” This would improve flexibility and accuracy without requiring more elaborate vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You attempt a mix of sentence forms, including complex clauses with “but,” “before,” and “which,” and most of the meaning remains clear. Some grammatical errors persist, particularly with subject–verb agreement and tense. For example, “the amount of new shops opening per year were” should use a singular verb with “amount,” or be recast as “the number of shops … was”; “the number … were lower” has the same agreement problem. The overview shifts from “were” to “it got dominated,” making the reference and construction awkward. There are also long sentences where clause boundaries are difficult to manage, especially the sentence beginning “At the start of the time frame” about openings. Use shorter, controlled sentences and check agreement and consistent past-tense reporting.

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