Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-09-25
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 gives information about how many first time visitors and returning visitors who visited Caryl island between 2000 and 2008.
Overall, the graph demonstrates that the number of the first time visitors slightly increased over the years expect in 2002. In addition, the number of the returning visitors had a considerable increase over the same period.
In 2000, 8000 visitor visited the island at the first time. Then, the numbers suffered from a dramatic decline until they reached a trough with 4000 in 2002. After that, it recovered with a sharp increase and reached almost 12000 in 2008.
For the returning visitors, the number dramatically increased from 2000 to 2002 until they reached 10000. Then, the numbers fluctuated with some ups and downs for the next four years. In 2006, a slightly decline happened after they reached the highest numbers ever as after that, numbers reached approximately 12800.
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 successfully covers all parts of the prompt by reporting the main features and making relevant comparisons between first-time and returning visitors. An overview is presented in the second paragraph, capturing the overall upward trend for both categories. However, there are a few inaccuracies in reporting specific data points. For instance, the student states that the number of returning visitors reached approximately 12,800 at the end of the period, whereas the graph indicates it was around 13,400. Additionally, the phrase 'expect in 2002' contains a lexical slip for 'except'. Despite these minor data discrepancies and minor mechanical errors, the core trends are clearly identified and supported with figures, satisfying the requirements for a Band 6.5 to 7.0 range, solidifying a Band 6.0 performance.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The essay is coherent overall, with a logical arrangement of information. The response is divided into an introduction, an overview paragraph, and two body paragraphs focusing on each visitor type respectively. Cohesive devices such as 'In 2000', 'Then', 'After that', and 'For the returning visitors' are used to sequence the information chronologically. However, referencing is sometimes imprecise, as seen with ambiguous pronoun use ('they reached a trough', 'until they reached 10000'). Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, guiding the reader through the distinct data sets presented in the line graph, meeting the criteria for a solid Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully employing words and phrases such as 'considerable increase', 'dramatic decline', 'trough', and 'fluctuated'. However, there are notable lexical and collocational errors throughout the response, such as 'visitor visited the island at the first time' instead of 'for the first time', 'expect' instead of 'except', and 'a slightly decline' instead of 'a slight decline'. While these errors do not impede communication, they restrict the lexical score to a Band 6.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The response exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and time clauses adequately (e.g., 'The line graph gives information about how many first time visitors and returning visitors who visited...'). There are several grammatical and mechanical errors present, including subject-verb agreement issues ('the numbers suffered... until they reached', 'numbers reached') and word-form errors ('a slightly decline happened'). Nevertheless, these errors are non-systematic and rarely impede communication, allowing the response to secure a Band 6.0 for grammatical range and accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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