Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-19

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 4.0)

The graph presents the data of closed shops and new shops in one country over the eight years.Units are measured in thousands.

Overall,In 2011 the highest number of shops has been closed ,while the number of new shops fell marginally by 2015.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

You identify the subject and time span, and you attempt an overall statement, but the response addresses the task only minimally. It gives no meaningful account of the main changes or comparisons across the eight years. The claim that 2011 had the highest number of closures is inaccurate: closures peaked in 2013, while openings were highest in 2011. The statement that openings “fell marginally by 2015” also misrepresents the substantial fall from about 8,500 to 4,000. The response is 108 words below the required minimum, leaving too little space to select and report key features. Include an accurate overview and several supported comparisons, such as the sharp 2015 drop in closures and the general decline in openings.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic two-part structure: an introductory sentence followed by an attempted overview. This gives the reader a simple starting point, but the ideas do not develop into a clear account of the graph, and there is no progression through the years or comparison between the two series. The overview also combines claims without showing how they relate to the data. To improve, organise the report into an introduction, a concise overview, and one or two detail paragraphs grouped by trend or period. Use clear links such as “By contrast” or “After this,” and ensure each sentence adds a relevant point rather than ending after a general statement.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use a small set of relevant terms, including “graph,” “data,” “closed shops,” and “new shops,” so the topic is identifiable. However, the vocabulary is limited and some expressions are imprecise: “data of closed shops” is less natural than “figures for shop closures,” while “number of new shops” could be expressed as “shop openings.” The phrase “fell marginally” is also an inaccurate description of the substantial decline shown. A fuller report would allow you to demonstrate a wider range of accurate trend language, such as “fluctuated,” “peaked,” “dropped sharply,” and “remained relatively stable.” Aim for precise wording that reflects the size and direction of each change.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response communicates its basic topic using simple sentence forms, but grammatical control is uneven. In “The graph presents the data of closed shops,” the construction is awkward, and “Units are measured in thousands” is not supported by the chart’s stated scale. The overview contains tense and agreement problems in “the highest number of shops has been closed,” where a past-tense description would be more appropriate, as well as punctuation and spacing errors in “Overall,In” and before the comma after “closed.” The range is very narrow, with no developed complex sentences. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and sentence boundaries, then use structures such as “while” or “whereas” to make comparisons.

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