Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-22

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 5.0)

The graph illustrates the number of shops closed and those newly opened between 2011 and 2018 in a country. In 2011, a huge number of shops were opened showing the maximum limit of approximately 8,500.

The number of shop closure was minimum initially with a total of 6,500. This then decreased by a number of 500 to 6,000. The number of shops closing has a fluctuated pattern with a decresaing trend in 2014 and 2015..This will suddenly rise in 2016 to almost 5,000. After 2016 , shop closure almost remains stable through the graph .

The number of new shops decreases to 4000 in 2012 followed by a gradual increase uoto 6000 till 2014. This number again fall to 4000 in 2015. the number then remain same then gradually decrease below minim

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify both series and report several relevant movements, including the opening figure of about 8,500 in 2011 and the fall in openings to around 4,000 in 2012. However, the account is incomplete and some key data are inaccurate: closures were about 6,400 in 2011, not a minimum of 6,500, and they fell dramatically to roughly 600 in 2015 before rebounding to about 5,200 in 2016. That exceptional low point is misreported as a decline across 2014–15. The response also ends mid-thought (“below minim”) and gives no clear overview of the main pattern. It is 18 words below the required minimum, which further limits the coverage. Select the major highs, lows and overall trends, and check each figure against the graph.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic sequence: it introduces the graph, discusses closures, and then turns to openings. This gives the reader some sense of how the information is organised, and phrases such as “This then” and “followed by” attempt to connect changes. However, the progression is weakened by unclear references such as “This number” and by the abrupt ending at “below minim,” which leaves the final trend unfinished. The closure paragraph also combines several movements without clearly separating the major stages. Use a concise overview followed by one paragraph for each series, and make each comparison or reference explicit so the reader can follow the data without guessing.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant chart vocabulary, including “decreased,” “gradual increase,” “fluctuated pattern” and “remains stable,” showing an attempt to describe change rather than simply list figures. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or awkward, such as “the number of shop closure,” “a number of 500,” and “below minim.” Repetition of “number” and “shops” also makes the account less precise. Spelling errors such as “decresaing” and “uoto” are noticeable. Build a more accurate set of trend expressions and use them with the correct data—for example, describe the sharp fall in closures in 2015 as a plunge, followed by a rebound in 2016.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response includes simple statements and some attempts at longer structures, such as “This then decreased by a number of 500 to 6,000” and “The number of new shops decreases to 4000 in 2012 followed by…” However, control is inconsistent: “The number of shop closure was minimum” has problems with number and article use, while “the number then remain same” lacks the correct verb form and article. Tense also shifts between past reporting and present (“This will suddenly rise”), and punctuation is unreliable, including the double full stop after “2015..”. These errors sometimes make the intended trend harder to interpret. Keep the whole report in the past tense and check subject–verb agreement, articles and sentence boundaries.

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