Cambridge 17 Writing Task 1 Test 4 - Sample Answers (Band 9 to 4-5)

The table shows the number of shops that closed and the number of new shops that opened in one country each year between 2011 and 2018.

Overall, shop closures fell consistently throughout the period while openings rose steadily, and the two figures crossed roughly midway through the period, with openings first exceeding closures in 2015, a trend that continued and strengthened for the remainder of the period shown.

In 2011, closures stood at 8,000, considerably higher than the 7,000 openings recorded that year, and this gap widened slightly in 2012, when closures peaked at 8,500 against only 6,500 openings, the largest deficit shown in the entire data set.

From 2013 onwards, however, the trend reversed steadily. Closures declined every year, falling to 7,500 in 2013 and continuing to fall until reaching just 4,500 by 2018, while openings rose in almost every year, from 6,000 in 2013 to 8,000 by 2018. Notably, 2015 marked the turning point at which openings, at 6,500, first overtook closures, at 6,000, and by 2018 openings exceeded closures by a considerable margin of 3,500.

The table shows the number of shops that closed and the number of new shops that opened each year between 2011 and 2018.

Overall, the number of shop closures decreased steadily over the period, while the number of openings increased, and openings became higher than closures partway through the period.

In 2011, closures were at 8,000, higher than the 7,000 openings. This gap grew slightly in 2012, when closures reached their highest point at 8,500, compared to only 6,500 openings.

After 2012, closures fell every year, reaching 4,500 by 2018, while openings rose almost every year, reaching 8,000 by 2018. Openings first became higher than closures in 2015, and by 2018 there was a large difference between the two figures. This pattern suggests that the retail environment recovered considerably over the second half of the period, with far more new businesses being established than were closing down by the final year shown.

The table shows shop closures and openings in one country from 2011 to 2018.

Overall, closures went down over time, and openings went up, and openings became more than closures at some point.

In 2011, there were 8,000 closures and 7,000 openings. In 2012, closures went up to 8,500, the highest point, and openings were only 6,500.

After that, closures kept going down every year to 4,500 by 2018, and openings kept going up to 8,000 by 2018. Openings became higher than closures in 2015. This shows a big change from the situation in 2011 and 2012, when far more shops were closing than opening. By the end of the period, the opposite was true, with almost twice as many shops opening as closing, suggesting the overall retail environment had become much healthier over the years shown in the table, likely helped by improving economic conditions and greater consumer confidence.

The table show shop closure and opening in one country from 2011 to 2018.

Overall, closure go down over time, and opening go up, and opening become more than closure at some point.

In 2011, there was 8,000 closure and 7,000 opening. In 2012, closure go up to 8,500, the highest point, and opening was only 6,500.

After that, closure keep going down every year to 4,500 by 2018, and opening keep going up to 8,000 by 2018. Opening become higher than closure in 2015. This show a big change from the situation in 2011 and 2012, when far more shop was closing than opening. By the end of the period, the opposite was true, with almost twice as many shop opening as closing, suggesting the overall retail environment have become much healthier over the year shown in the table, likely help by improving economic condition and greater consumer confidence.