PCD

Cambridge IELTS Book 17 Writing Task 1 Test 1

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. This essay question is from Cambridge IELTS 17 Test 4 Writing Task 1.

Number of shop closures and openings 2011-2018

The line graph illustrates the number of store closures and openings in a specific country from 2011 to 2018. Both closures and openings fluctuated significantly during this period, though store closures consistently exceeded openings, except in 2011 and 2015.

Between 2011 and 2014, the number of closures varied between 6,000 and 7,000 before plummeting to its lowest point, around 600, in 2015. This figure then surged back up to approximately 5,000 in 2016 and remained stable at this level through to 2018.

In 2011, approximately 8,500 stores opened, creating a net increase of 2,000 stores. After a sharp decline to 4,000 in 2012, openings rebounded, nearly matching closures in 2014 at just over 6,000. The number of openings then dropped to its 2012 level in 2015, eventually falling to a record low of 3,000 by 2018. (183 Words)

Closures vs Closings
“Closures” is British English whereas “closings” is American English. I speak American English so I used “closings” throughout the essay

Except vs Except For vs Except In

They are all correct.

  • Closings outpaced openings in all years except for 2011 and 2015.
  • Closings outpaced openings in all years except in 2011 and 2015.
  • Closings outpaced openings in all years except 2011 and 2015.

Should I Describe the Two Lines Separately or Mix Them Together?
The answer is obvious if you think about it from the perspective of a reader. Your essay would be hard to follow if you first compare the two lines, and then go on to describe the first line, and then compare it to the second line again. Therefore, it’s better to separate the two lines into two different paragraphs. But this doesn’t mean that you don’t compare the two lines. Note how I compared them in the last paragraph.

  • In 2011, around 8,500 shops opened, which resulted in 2,000 net openings: the blue part is a comparison between openings and closings because you have to compare them to get the net openings (6000-4000-2000).
  • Openings made a rebound, reaching nearly the same level as closings in 2014.