Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-18

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 graph demonstrates the data of shops that has been closed and the latest shops that has been opened in a country between the time period of 2011 to 2018.

By analyzing the structure of the figure it is clear that number of shops thats been opened is greater than the one closed.In the timeline their is an overall decrese in both opening and closing of the shops. But the major dip in closure was in the mid of the period.

Maximum number of shops which were opened is about 8600 in the start of the period. But this number is decrease by a huge amount and reached around 4000 in the next year . Both opening and closing was approximately equal in the year 2014.

Closing of the shops were lower as compare to the opening in the start approximately 6200 shops were closed. But their is an massive decrease in the numbers and it was less than a thousand in the middle of the time period. Although their numbers were less in the start but at the end it crossed the openings by a margin of 2000 shops.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad subject and include several relevant comparisons, such as the sharp fall in closures in the middle of the period and the high opening figure at the start. However, the overview is not consistently accurate: openings were not generally higher than closures, since closures exceeded openings in 2013 and from 2015 to 2018. The claim that closures crossed openings by 2,000 at the end is also incorrect; in 2018 closures were about 5,200 versus 3,000 openings. Some key trends are under-reported, including the recovery in closures after the 2015 low and the overall decline in openings. A clearer, accurate overview and more carefully selected comparisons would make the response more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic paragraph structure, moving from an introduction and overview to details about openings and closures. This gives the reader some organisation, and phrases such as “But” and “Although” attempt to connect contrasting information. However, progression is not always clear: the overview says openings were greater, while the final paragraph says closures exceeded openings at the end, without resolving the contradiction. Several sentences also combine multiple points without clear links, and “By analyzing the structure of the figure” does not lead naturally into the trend description. Grouping the series more systematically and using precise comparisons would create a clearer progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant chart vocabulary, including “overall decrease,” “major dip,” “approximately equal,” and “massive decrease,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “latest shops” for newly opened shops, “in the timeline,” and “crossed the openings.” Repetition of “number,” “shops,” and “decrease” also limits flexibility. Spelling errors such as “decrese” and “thats” are noticeable, while phrases like “the one closed” are imprecise. Aim for standard reporting language and accurate collocations, for example, “the number of closures fell sharply” and “closures outnumbered openings.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple statements and longer sentences, including a contrast with “Although,” but control is inconsistent. Errors occur in agreement and verb forms: “shops that has been closed,” “this number is decrease,” and “Both opening and closing was approximately equal.” Articles and sentence boundaries are also problematic, as in “number of shops thats been opened” and “closed.In the timeline.” These errors sometimes make relationships between the figures harder to follow. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and subject–verb agreement, and check punctuation and spacing. More reliable control of straightforward sentence patterns would help you communicate the comparisons clearly before attempting more complex structures.

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