Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The line graph illustrates the number of shops that were opened and closed in a specific country from 2011 to 2018.

Overall, the new shop openings were highest in the beginning. Whereas, the most noticeable feature was the sharp fall in shop closures in 2015, when the figure reached its lowest point.

In 2011, approximately 8500 new shops opened. However, the figure witnessed a massive fall in the following year by reaching the number of almost 4000. Over the next two years, the number of new shops opening, faced a rise by reaching almost 6000. Furthermore, the figure experienced a minor dip and then plateaued towards 2017.

Around 6400 shops were closed in 2011 with the figure witnessing a casual drop and then reaching its peak at about 7000 in 2013. In the following year, the number stayed almost consistent. However, it went through a major setback in 2015, with the number reaching as low as almost 700. Nevertheless, the closure figure recovered significantly, reaching about 5200 in 2016.

In the final two years, the shop closures remained relatively stable at around 5000. In contrast, new openings fluctuated slightly before falling to approximately 3000 in 2018, their lowest level during the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover both series and identify the most important features: openings peak at the start, while closures plunge dramatically in 2015 and then recover. Most figures and comparisons are accurate, including the 2011 opening figure and the low point for closures. The overview is relevant, though it could compare the overall direction of both series more explicitly. There are also a few imprecisions: openings rise to about 5,000 in 2013 and 6,200 in 2014, rather than reaching almost 6,000 across the next two years; and the 2017–18 opening trend is not simply a slight fluctuation, as it falls to its period low. More precise reporting of these changes would make the account more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is arranged in a clear sequence: an introduction and overview are followed by separate descriptions of openings and closures, then a final comparison. This makes the main information easy to locate, and linking expressions such as “However,” “Furthermore,” and “In contrast” help signal changes. At times, though, the connections feel mechanical or the reference is unclear. For example, “the figure experienced a minor dip and then plateaued towards 2017” does not specify which years or values are being described, and the final paragraph partly repeats the closure trend already covered. The standalone “Whereas” after a full stop is also an awkward transition. More precise links between years and less repetition would improve progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of trend vocabulary, including “sharp fall,” “recovered significantly,” “remained relatively stable,” and “lowest level,” which helps describe the graph. There are also attempts at less common expressions, but some are inaccurate or unnatural in this context. “Casual drop” does not convey a data trend; “major setback” is overly evaluative for a neutral report; and “the number of new shops opening, faced a rise” is an awkward collocation. “Plateaued” is also not quite accurate for a series that changes between years. Aim for precise, neutral reporting verbs and collocations, such as “declined,” “rose,” “remained stable,” and “reached a low.” This would make the vocabulary more controlled without requiring more elaborate wording.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex forms, including time clauses and contrast structures: “when the figure reached its lowest point” and “In contrast, new openings…” The meaning is generally clear, but some grammatical and punctuation errors remain. “Whereas” is incorrectly left as a sentence fragment after a full stop; connect it to the preceding clause or use “By contrast.” In “the number of new shops opening, faced a rise,” the comma wrongly separates the subject from its verb. The phrase “the number stayed almost consistent” also has an awkward grammatical construction; say that the figure “remained almost unchanged.” There is an extra space after “However,” and the sentence patterns rely repeatedly on “the figure” and “the number.” Greater control of clause boundaries and varied sentence structures would strengthen accuracy.

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