Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-20

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 5.5)

The line graph presents the number of shop closures and opening in a country from 2011 to 2018.

Overall, the number of shop closures huge fluctuated throughout the period, while the number of shop openings a experienced decreased.

In 2011, the number of new business open around 8500 and sharply decline in 2012 about 4000, while in 2013 and 2014 have an increased again approximately 5000 to 6200. In 2015, the number of open shops decline around 4000 and after 2 year it remain constant. In the last year, it decreased about 3000, its mean the number of shop opens is fluctuated.

In 2011, the number of shop closures about 6400 and after one year it is litte bit decreased. In 2013, the number of closures shop are increased approximately 7100, while in 2014 its again decline around 6500. IN 2015, the number if shop closures have sharply decline about 500. In the following year, it remain constant around 5000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify both series and cover the full period, with relevant figures such as openings at about 8,500 in 2011 and closures peaking at roughly 7,200 in 2013. However, the response only partially selects and reports the main features. The overview says closures “huge fluctuated” and openings “experienced decreased,” but does not clearly summarise the contrasting overall patterns or key extremes. Some details are inaccurate or unclear: openings did not remain constant after 2015, rising slightly from about 4,000 to 4,200 in 2017, and closures did not remain constant in the final two years, moving from about 5,000 to 5,200. The 2015 closure figure is also closer to 600 than 500. Make the overview precise and report the ending trends accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for openings and closures. This gives the reader a basic route through the information, and time markers such as “In 2011,” “In 2015,” and “In the following year” help establish sequence. However, progression within the paragraphs is sometimes difficult to follow because several changes are compressed into long sentences, and the final statements are unclear or repetitive—for example, “its mean the number of shop opens is fluctuated.” The overview also does not provide a clear organising comparison. Use one paragraph to summarise the main patterns, then group the detailed figures by series and connect changes with accurate contrast and sequence markers.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “closures,” “open shops,” “sharply,” “decreased,” and “approximately,” so the reader can generally identify the subject and direction of change. However, the range is limited and several word choices or forms are inaccurate, which sometimes makes the meaning awkward: “shop closures huge fluctuated,” “new business open,” and “shop opens is fluctuated.” There are also spelling and word-form slips such as “litte” and “decline” where a past-tense form is needed. Aim for precise chart language and natural collocations, such as “the number of shops opening,” “fell sharply,” “rose,” and “fluctuated considerably.” Vary these expressions rather than repeating “number of” and “decline.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to combine comparisons and time references in longer sentences, for example, “In 2011, the number of new business open around 8500 and sharply decline in 2012,” but these attempts often contain errors in verb forms, agreement, and sentence construction. Examples include “the number … huge fluctuated,” “openings a experienced decreased,” and “the number of closures shop are increased.” Missing or incorrect articles and plural forms also affect accuracy. The final sentence, “In the following year, it remain constant around 5000,” has an incorrect verb form and does not clearly identify the subject. Practise building accurate simple sentences first, then combine them with “while” or “whereas”; check that each subject has a matching verb and that past-tense forms are consistent.

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