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.

Cambridge IELTS 17 Academic Test 4 Writing Task 1 visual

Annotated response

4 correction notes

The graph presents the data for a single country from 2011 to 2018, showcasing the openings and closures of shops.

As a whole, shop closures sharply declined in 2015, while . The correlation between shop openings and closures was evident in the early years, peaking in 2014. However, in subsequent years, the two became increasingly independent of each other.

In 2011, there were shop openings, followed by a notable drop in the subsequent year. From there, a steady increase occurred until 2014. Conversely, shop closures exceeded 6,000 in 2011, peaking at over 7,000 in 2013.

In 2015, about 4,000 shops opened, decreasing over the years to 3,000 in 2018. Shop closures, however, saw a significant drop below 1,000 in 2015, followed by a notable increase to over 5,000 in 2018.

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 7.0

The response is accurate in most reported figures and clearly organised, with a serviceable overview of the two trends. Its main limitations are that it is 34 words below the minimum length, leaving later years thinly covered, and its overview contains a slightly muddled characterisation of the relationship between the two lines.

IELTS criteria

How each score was decided

Task Achievement

6.5

The response covers both series with largely accurate data and a clear overview, but at 116 words it is 34 words under the minimum and the 2016–2017 data are barely addressed, while the claim about the lines becoming 'increasingly independent' is vague and partly unsupported.

Coherence and Cohesion

7.0

Ideas progress logically through an overview followed by chronological body paragraphs, with appropriate linking devices such as 'Conversely' and 'However' used naturally.

Lexical Resource

7.0

Vocabulary is sufficiently flexible for the task, with good use of terms like 'notable drop', 'steady increase', and 'significant drop', and no errors impede meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

7.0

A range of structures, including varied tense forms and complex sentences, is used with good control and only minor, non-impeding lapses.

More responses with feedback

View all 5 responses (6.0–7.0)