Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

The line graph illustrates the number of new shops opened and shops closed from 2011 and 2018 in a single country.

Overall, the number of both closed shops and new shops declined throughout the period. Notably, number of shop closure generally outnumbered the number of openings for most of the years.

For shop closures, in 2011, it started at approximately 6500 and fluctuated around 5900 to 7100 in the next two years, before representing 6500 in 2014. The number of closures fell substantially in 2015 to roughly 800, before increasing significantly in the later year reaching 5100 shops. In the later three years, the number fluctuated in that same range.

For new shop openings, it started over the number of shops closed in 2011 at 8500 before declining steeply to 3900 in 2012. From 2012 to 2014 the number gradually increased to 6100, before again falling to 4000 in 2015. Moreover, from 2015 to 2017 new shop openings number stayed relatively stable, before a fall of about 1100 shops in 2018.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover both series and provide a clear overview, identifying the sharp fall in closures in 2015 and the general tendency for closures to exceed openings. The main trends are mostly reported accurately, including the opening figure of about 8,500 and its decline to 3,900 in 2012. However, the overview overgeneralises: closures did not outnumber openings in most years; openings were higher in 2011 and 2015, and the figures were close in 2014. The closure low is also given as roughly 800, whereas the chart indicates about 600. Your account of the later closure figures is somewhat vague, and the claim that both series declined throughout does not capture their fluctuations. More precise comparisons and a fully accurate overview would strengthen coverage.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response is organised effectively into an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for closures and openings. This gives the reader a clear route through the information, and sequencing phrases such as “before,” “from 2012 to 2014,” and “in 2018” help show changes over time. The two series are kept distinct, which supports clarity. Some linking is slightly mechanical, particularly the repeated use of “before,” and “Moreover” does not add a particularly clear relationship between the stable period and the final decline. The reference “in the later three years” is also imprecise. Use a few more direct comparisons between the lines and clearer time references to make progression more flexible and cohesive.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

You use a suitable range of trend vocabulary, including “fluctuated,” “declining steeply,” “fell substantially,” and “increasing significantly.” These choices communicate the main movements and show some flexibility beyond basic terms such as “went up” and “went down.” A few expressions are awkward or imprecise: “representing 6500” does not naturally describe a figure, “in the later year” is unclear, and “new shop openings number” is an unnatural phrase. “Fluctuated in that same range” is also vague when describing the later closure values. Aim for more natural collocations and precise nouns, such as “the number of closures” or “shop openings,” and use “stood at” for a value. This would make the description more fluent and exact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including clauses with “before” and time phrases such as “From 2012 to 2014.” Many sentences are clear and grammatically controlled, and punctuation generally supports the meaning. Some errors remain. In the overview, “number of shop closure” needs an article and plural form (“the number of shop closures”), while “the number of openings” is the appropriate parallel construction. The opening sentence uses “from 2011 and 2018” rather than “from 2011 to 2018.” In “reaching 5100 shops,” the participle’s reference is not fully clear, and “in the later three years” is an awkwardly formed time phrase. Check articles, plurals, and prepositions, and make modifiers attach clearly to the intended subject.

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