Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-08-25

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The line graph shows the number of first time visitors and returning visitors who visited Caryl Island from 2000 to 2008.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The line graph shows the number of first time visitors and returning visitors who visited Caryl Island from 2000 to 2008.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The line graph compares between the travellers of Caryl Island, who comes 1st time and regular travellers from the duration of eight years (2000 - 2008). The graph depicts that the number of returning visitors reached to the peak in 2006.

The number of first time visitors in 2000 was 8000 and returning visitors was around 3000. However, The visiting of regular tourist surged and reached to 10000 in 2002. In contrast, plummet of visitors of first timers can be seen is same year. Subsequently, gradually rose trend has been seen in both tourist, pioneer visitors goes up to 6000 in 2004, around 10000 in 2006, and reached upto the 12000 in 2008.

However, slightly inclined has been seen in the number of regular tourists, 12000 in 2004, and hit a peak in 2006, Afterwards, gradually decline came in 2008 and fell around 13000.

All in all, the trend of returning visitors was above from first time visitors.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the graph, identifying the trends for both visitor types. However, the analysis is somewhat inconsistent. For instance, the description of the 2002 data is confusing, as the text mentions a 'plummet' for first-time visitors, which is not clearly supported by the data trends. While the overview is present, it lacks precision in comparing the two categories effectively. The data points are generally accurate, but the overall summary could be more cohesive to ensure all parts of the task are addressed with equal clarity and depth.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or inaccurate, such as the awkward transition 'In contrast, plummet of visitors...'. The referencing is occasionally unclear, and the logical progression between sentences is sometimes interrupted by grammatical errors. While there is an overall arrangement, the flow of ideas could be improved by using more varied and precise linking words to connect the trends described in the graph.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks sophistication. There are several instances of awkward word choices and non-standard collocations, such as 'regular tourist' instead of 'returning visitors', 'pioneer visitors' (which is contextually incorrect), and 'slightly inclined has been seen'. These errors occasionally make the text feel repetitive or unnatural. To reach a higher band, you should focus on using more precise terminology related to data description and improving your control over word forms and collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Examples include 'compares between the travellers', 'reached to the peak', and 'gradually rose trend has been seen'. These errors, particularly with prepositions and passive voice constructions, are noticeable and sometimes impede the clarity of the message. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from achieving a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage would be highly beneficial.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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