Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-21

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)

If dotted line shows the number of shops that closed and straight line as number of shops that opened during the time of 2011 to 2018, then in 2011, 8500 were closed and 6400 are opened. In 2012, 3950 shops were closed and 5550 shops are opened. In 2013, 5000 shops are closed and 7100 shops are opened. In 2014, 6200 shops were closed and 6500 shops are opened. In 2015, 4000 shops were closed but 700 shops were opened. In 2016, 4000 shops were closed and 5200 shops were opened. In 2017, 4100 Shops were closed and 5000 shops were opened. In 2018, 3000 shops were closed and 5200 shops were opened. its mean that their is not any rapid increase or decrease in rate of shops closed or opened. If we selected dotted line as opened shops then thhe process will be reversed and we will used all the readings of dotted line as opened shops and straight line as closed shops.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

The response attempts to report figures across the full period, but it misidentifies the line styles: the solid line represents closures and the dotted line openings, not the reverse. Consequently, most figures are assigned to the wrong category, and several are also inaccurate—for example, closures fall to about 600 in 2015, not 700, while openings are about 4,000 that year. The statement that there is no rapid increase or decrease overlooks the dramatic fall in closures in 2015 and the sharp fluctuations in openings. The final sentence merely describes reversing the labels rather than summarising the data. To improve, identify each series correctly and give a clear overview of the main trends and extremes before selecting supporting figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 3.5

The response follows the years in sequence, which gives the reader a basic chronological framework, and it attempts to distinguish the two series. However, nearly all the information is placed in one long paragraph, with repeated sentence patterns such as “In 2012…” and “In 2013…”. This makes the report read like a list rather than a logically grouped summary. The opening conditional about the line styles and the closing sentence about reversing them also interrupt the progression and leave the reader unsure which interpretation is intended. Use separate paragraphs for an overview and key details, group years with similar patterns, and use clear references to closures and openings throughout.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the basic subject and figures, using relevant terms such as “shops,” “closed,” “opened,” “increase,” and “decrease.” However, the range is narrow and repetitive, and some expressions are imprecise or unsuitable for a formal data report. “Its mean that” is an awkward way to introduce a conclusion, while “the process will be reversed” does not accurately describe the chart. The response also relies on “shops were closed/opened” rather than varied, natural reporting language. Aim for precise chart vocabulary and collocations, such as “the number of closures fell” or “openings peaked,” and avoid discussing hypothetical changes to the line labels.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response uses mostly simple sentence patterns, often repeating “In [year], [number] shops were…”; this limits grammatical range. There are attempts at more complex structures, including “If dotted line shows…” and “If we selected…,” but these are not controlled consistently. Errors include missing articles in “If dotted line,” incorrect tense and agreement in “8500 were closed and 6400 are opened,” and “its mean” where a complete, correctly formed clause is needed. The final sentence also shifts awkwardly between conditional forms (“selected” and “will be reversed”). Practise accurate present-tense descriptions of chart data, article use, and sentence boundaries, then combine details with controlled clauses such as “while” or “whereas.”

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.