Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-09-05
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 given line graph illustrates the information about the visitors who visited first time and came back to Caryl Island between 2000 and 2008. Noticeably, in terms of visitors, both showed the opposite trends at the end of the years.
It is apparent that, in 2000, only 3000 people returned to Island, whereas the number of people who visited first time were more than that who came back, which accounted 8000. In the following years, the figure of the first times visitors falls significantly and reached at 4000. in contrast, the ratio of returned visitors witnessed upward trends and stood at ten thousand.
After 2002, the number of first visitors again increased 2000, then the figure reached at 12000 by the end of 2008, but still less than returning visitors. The figure of first times visitors continuously rose and reached at a peak (15000); this was highest among all the numbers. In 2008, the numbers were decreased and stood at nearly 13000.
Overall, in the beginning years, first time visitors observed less number, whereas returning visitors had highest number.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the graph, including the trends for both visitor types. However, the analysis is inconsistent and contains factual inaccuracies regarding the data. For instance, you state that first-time visitors reached a peak of 15,000, which is not supported by the provided graph. Additionally, the description of the trends is sometimes confusing, such as stating that both showed 'opposite trends' when they both experienced fluctuations. To improve, ensure that your data points are accurately transcribed from the graph and that your summary clearly distinguishes between the two categories throughout the entire period.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate. For example, the transition 'in contrast' is used, but the subsequent sentence structure is disjointed. The referencing is also unclear at times, particularly when discussing the figures for 2008. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider range of linking words more naturally and ensure that the progression of ideas between sentences is smoother and more logical.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision required for a higher band. You rely on repetitive phrasing such as 'the figure of' and 'the number of'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'observed less number' and 'reached at', which are not standard English usage. To improve, try to incorporate more varied reporting verbs and nouns, and pay closer attention to the correct prepositional usage after verbs like 'reach' or 'increase'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'the number of people who visited first time were'), missing articles, and incorrect verb tenses. For example, 'the numbers were decreased' should be 'the numbers decreased'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and article usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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