This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay from the new Cambridge IELTS 17 book of past test papers about shop closures and openings in a country.

You can read essays and guides for the other IELTS Cambridge books, including Cambridge 17, here:

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IELTS Cambridge 17 Essay: Shops that Closed

The chart shows the number of shops that closed and the number of new shops opening in a country from 2011 to 2018.

The line chart details shop closures and openings in a given nation between 2011 and 2018. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that both figures were in decline, though most noticeably the number of openings. After erratic trends for both categories, by the end of the period closures had become more common.

In 2011, there were approximately 8,500 openings in the country, significantly higher than the 6,200 closures. Over the next several years, openings dropped to a low of 4,000 and then partly recovered to 6,100 in 2014. Openings were more stable and rose to a peak of 7,100 in 2013 before reaching nearly the same level as closures in 2014.

After this point, closures fell dramatically to just 600 in 2015 before returning to slightly depressed levels and finishing the time surveyed at 5,100. In contrast, openings declined less substantially to around 4,000 between 2015 and 2017 and dipped to end at 3,000 precisely in 2018.

Analysis

1. The line chart details shop closures and openings in a given nation between 2011 and 2018. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that both figures were in decline, though most noticeably the number of openings. 3. After erratic trends for both categories, by the end of the period closures had become more common.

Paraphrase what the bar chart shows.
Write a clear overview summarising the differences.
You might need another sentence for your overview.

1. In 2011, there were approximately 8,500 openings in the country, significantly higher than the 6,200 closures. 2. Over the next several years, openings dropped to a low of 4,000 and then partly recovered to 6,100 in 2014. 3. Openings were more stable and rose to a peak of 7,100 in 2013 before reaching nearly the same level as closures in 2014.

Begin writing about the data for the first categories.
Make sure you compare as much as possible.
Vary long and short sentences.

1. After this point, closures fell dramatically to just 600 in 2015 before returning to slightly depressed levels and finishing the time surveyed at 5,100. 2. In contrast, openings declined less substantially to around 4,000 between 2015 and 2017 and dipped to end at 3,000 precisely in 2018.

Write about the final other parts of the graph –
include everything!

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

The line chart details shop closures and openings in a given nation between 2011 and 2018. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that both figures were in decline, though most noticeably the number of openings. After erratic trends for both categories, by the end of the period closures had become more common.

In 2011, there were approximately 8,500 openings in the country, significantly higher than the 6,200 closures. Over the next several years, openings dropped to a low of 4,000 and then partly recovered to 6,100 in 2014. Openings were more stable and rose to a peak of 7,100 in 2013 before reaching nearly the same level as closures in 2014.

After this point, closures fell dramatically to just 600 in 2015 before returning to slightly depressed levels and finishing the time surveyed at 5,100. In contrast, openings declined less substantially to around 4,000 between 2015 and 2017 and dipped to end at 3,000 precisely in 2018.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

details shows

closures shutting down, not opening

openings starting up, beginning

in a given nation in some country

between 2011 and 2018 from 2011 to 2018

Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that overall

figures numbers

in decline decreasing

though despite

most noticeably moreso

erratic trends fluctuating patterns

by the end of the period at the end of the time

common more popular

approximately around

significantly higher than a lot more than

dropped fell

low lowest point

partly recovered came back up but not all the way

stable little change

rose to a peak of hit a high point of

reaching nearly the same level as getting to the same point as

after this point now

fell dramatically decreased a lot

returning to slightly depressed levels going back down to lower numbers

finishing the time surveyed at ending at

In contrast however

declined less substantially went down not as much

around close to

dipped fell

end at finished at

precisely exactly

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

ˈdiːteɪlz
ˈkləʊʒəz
ˈəʊpnɪŋz
ɪn ə ˈgɪvn ˈneɪʃən
bɪˈtwiːn … ænd …
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt
ˈfɪgəz
ɪn dɪˈklaɪn
ðəʊ
məʊst ˈnəʊtɪsəbli
ɪˈrætɪk trɛndz
baɪ ði ɛnd ɒv ðə ˈpɪərɪəd
ˈkɒmən
əˈprɒksɪmɪtli
sɪgˈnɪfɪkəntli ˈhaɪə ðæn
drɒpt
ləʊ
ˈpɑːtli rɪˈkʌvəd
ˈsteɪbl
rəʊz tuː ə piːk ɒv
ˈriːʧɪŋ ˈnɪəli ðə seɪm ˈlɛvl æz
ˈɑːftə ðɪs pɔɪnt,
fɛl drəˈmætɪk(ə)li
rɪˈtɜːnɪŋ tuː ˈslaɪtli dɪˈprɛst ˈlɛvlz
ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ ðə taɪm sɜːˈveɪd æt
ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst,
dɪˈklaɪnd lɛs səbˈstænʃəli
əˈraʊnd
dɪpt
ɛnd æt
prɪˈsaɪsli

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

The line chart d_________s shop c_______s and o___________s i___________________n b_______________8. L___________________________________________t both f_________s were i___________e, t_________________________y the number of openings. After e_____________s for both categories, b______________________d closures had become more c______n.

In 2011, there were a_______________y 8,500 openings in the country, s_________________n the 6,200 closures. Over the next several years, openings d_________d to a l___w of 4,000 and then p______________d to 6,100 in 2014. Openings were more s______e and r__________________f 7,100 in 2013 before r_________________________________s closures in 2014.

A______________t, closures f___________________y to just 600 in 2015 before r___________________________________s and f____________________________________t 5,100. I____________t, openings d_________________________y to a_______d 4,000 between 2015 and 2017 and d________d to e______t 3,000 p_________y in 2018.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/fashion/g19731295/10-coolest-stores-in-the-world/

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Shopping

What do you usually shop for?
Do you often go to malls?
Do you shop online a lot?
How common are shopping centers in your country?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below:

IELTS Essay: Crime in the City Center Line Chart