Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-09-26

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)

this line graph illustrates the numbers of new visitors and the vistors who came back at Caryl island from years 2000 to 2008.

Overall, the returning vistors are increased through out the period just starting from 3,000 in 2000. Furthermore, number of new vistors fall in first two year before reaching at just below 12,000.

To begin with, Frist time visitors starts at more than twice of the visitors who visited this again in 2002. Although, the number on returning visitors sky rocketed from 3,000 to 10,000 just in 2 years from 2000 to 2002. The numbers of returning visitors increases gradually and reached at a peak of 15,000 in 2006. Then, fell from there and reached at around 13000 in 2008.

In Contrast, first time visitors starts from 8000, making them more than twice from reurning visitors. Following this, they face a dip and reached at 4000 just after two years. Despite this dip the number increses steadily from 4,000 to around 12,000, from 2002 to 2008, respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The student covers all parts of the task well, providing an overview of the main trends and reporting the key data points from the line graph. The overview successfully highlights the upward trend for returning visitors and the initial dip followed by growth for first-time visitors. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in data reporting. For instance, the student states that returning visitors reached a peak of 15,000 in 2006 (the visual data shows approximately 15,200, which is acceptable), but later states that first-time visitors started at 8,000 and 'were more than twice from returning visitors' in 2000, which contradicts the actual data where returning visitors were 3,000 and first-time visitors were 8,000 (making first-time visitors more than twice returning visitors, but the phrasing in the body paragraph 'Frist time visitors starts at more than twice of the visitors who visited this again in 2002' is somewhat confused). Overall, the main features are sufficiently selected and reported, meeting the requirements for Band 6.5 or 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response is arranged into a logical structure with an introduction, an overview paragraph, and two separate body paragraphs detailing each category. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'To begin with', 'Although', and 'In Contrast' are employed to guide the reader through the comparisons. However, paragraphing could be improved, and referencing is sometimes clunky, such as 'visitors who visited this again'. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but mechanical transitions prevent the text from achieving a higher band. Overall, the organization is coherent, satisfying the criteria for Band 6.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting less common items such as 'sky rocketed', 'gradually', and 'steadily'. However, there are numerous spelling errors and awkward word choices throughout the text, including 'vistors' (instead of visitors), 'Frist' (first), 'increses' (increases), and 'reurning' (returning). Additionally, phrases like 'visitors who came back at Caryl island' are overly conversational and lack academic precision. While communication is not impeded, these lexical errors and limitations restrict the score to a Band 5.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating subordinate clauses introduced by 'Although', 'Despite', and 'while'. However, grammatical accuracy is weak, with frequent errors in verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, and prepositions. Examples include 'the returning vistors are increased' (passive/active confusion), 'first time visitors starts' (subject-verb agreement), and 'at Caryl island' (preposition choice). Punctuation is also problematic, particularly comma splices and missing commas after introductory phrases. These persistent errors place the response firmly in the Band 5.0 range.

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

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