Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-09-01

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 first time visitors and returning visitors to Caryl Island from 2000 to 2008. Overall, the number of returning visitors exceed the number of first time visitors, even though, initially, the figure for first time visitors is higher compared to its counterpart.

In 2000, first time visitors numbered around 8000, which plummeted to 4000 in 2002. Afterwards, tourist numbers surged, peaking at around 10000 in 2008.

In contrast, the data for returning visitors recorded their lowest visitor count of around 3000 in 2000. From 2000 to 2006, this figure rose rapidly from the 2000 to 10000 in 2002, 12000 in 2004, until it reached its maximum of 15000 visitors in 2006. 2006 onwards, there was a decline, however, where the visitor count fell from its peak of 15000 to approximately 13800.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response provides a clear overview and identifies key trends, such as the initial higher number of first-time visitors and the subsequent dominance of returning visitors. However, the response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. Because the response is under-length, the development of the information is limited, and some data points are presented in a slightly confusing manner, such as the sentence describing the rise from 2000 to 2006. To improve, ensure all data is clearly presented and the minimum word count is met to allow for full development of the main features.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction followed by body paragraphs focusing on the two categories of visitors. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Afterwards', and 'Overall' are used to guide the reader. However, the progression of ideas is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing, particularly in the third paragraph where the sequence of data points is somewhat cluttered. The use of referencing is generally clear, but the overall flow could be improved by using more varied linking phrases to connect the trends between the two groups more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, with some effective choices such as 'plummeted', 'surged', and 'counterpart'. These words demonstrate an attempt to use more precise language to describe trends. There are no significant spelling errors, and the vocabulary used is appropriate for an academic report. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate a wider variety of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' and use more sophisticated collocations to describe the data points, rather than relying on simple numerical descriptions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While there are some error-free sentences, there are also grammatical slips, such as 'the number of returning visitors exceed' (should be 'exceeds') and the awkward construction 'from the 2000 to 10000 in 2002'. Punctuation is generally handled well, but the sentence structure in the third paragraph is slightly disjointed. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensure that complex sentences are constructed with greater precision to avoid ambiguity.

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

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