Shop Closures and Openings 2011-2018

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.

Annotated response

16 correction notes

The line graph illustrates the opening and closing of shops in a particular nation from 2011 to 2018. Overall, the year 2015 marked the , while the minimum number of shop openings occurred at the end of the period. There are fluctuations in shop openings and closures, with 2015 being a significant turning point for closures, and a consistent decline observed in openings towards the end of the period.

there were in the initial year, which slightly decreased to in 2012. between 2013 and 2014. Notably, there was a significant , representing the most substantial change in the given period. Subsequently, minimal variations in shop closures were observed in the following years.

Looking at shop openings, the peak of occurred in the first year, followed by a in 2012. Despite some fluctuations, the opening of shops surpassed 6,000 in the subsequent years. However, a considerable reflected a decline in public preference. In the last two years, a was noted, reaching 3,000 shop openings in 2018.

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 6.0

The response is clearly organised with a functional overview and a range of structures and vocabulary, which is its strongest aspect. However, it is severely undermined by widespread data inaccuracy: figures are inflated by a factor of ten, the closure peak is misattributed to 2015 when the graph shows it as the lowest point, and several trend claims are reversed, leaving most reported details unsupported by the visual.

IELTS criteria

How each score was decided

Task Achievement

4.0

The response includes an overview and covers both series, but it distorts the data extensively, claiming 65,000 and 85,000 closures and openings against graph values of about 6,400 and 8,500, misplacing the closure peak in 2015 when the graph shows roughly 600 that year, and describing unsupported trends such as a drop to 200 openings, so key features are inaccurately reported.

Coherence and Cohesion

6.0

Ideas are arranged in logical paragraphs with an overview and clear sequencing devices such as 'To begin with' and 'Looking at', giving generally coherent progression, though internal contradictions between statements like a 'significant reduction' followed by 'minimal variations' weaken the flow.

Lexical Resource

6.5

There is a sufficient range of topic-appropriate vocabulary including 'fluctuated', 'surpassed', 'considerable drop' and 'significant turning point', with mainly accurate usage, though some phrases such as 'public preference' are unsupported and slightly imprecise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

6.5

A variety of complex structures, including concessive and temporal clauses and passive voice, are used with generally good control, and errors are minor and rarely impede understanding.

More responses with feedback

View all 5 responses (6.0–7.0)