Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-10-16

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.

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 illustrates the comparison of data between first time visitors and returning visitors who visited Caryl Island from 2000 to 2008.Overall Caryl Island always had higher repeated guests instead of initial arrivers throughout the 8 years except in 2000.

To begin with, in 2000 the first time visiting people was higher compared to the person who has already visited the island then again arrived. Whereas,within 2 years the portion of first time visitors reduced by nearlt half than the repeated visitors portion and became only 4000 persons.

However, the later years both categories guests number increased.Though,the repeated guests numbers reached at peak by 15000 people in 2006.Consequently, it declined within 2 years by 2000 people and became 13000 guests.

The first time visitors numbers has always rised after one downtrend in 2002.By 2008 the numbers of time visitors in the Island reached at nearly 12thousand people that is very close to repeated guests number.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the two visitor groups and report several key movements, including the sharp fall in first-time visitors by 2002 and the rise and later decline in returning visitors. However, the overview is inaccurate: returning visitors were higher in every year except 2000, not “always” higher except then—the exception is correctly noted, but the wording is awkward and the comparison is not clearly summarised. Some figures are approximate but broadly consistent with the graph; for example, the returning-visitor peak is about 15,200 in 2006, rather than 15,000, and first-time visitors reach about 11,800 in 2008. The response is also below the required 150 words, with 143 counted words; the 14 words copied from the prompt were not included. Add a clearer overview and fuller comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic overall structure: an introduction and overview are followed by paragraphs describing the earlier and later years. This gives the reader a general route through the information. However, progression within the paragraphs is sometimes unclear, and several linking devices are used mechanically or inaccurately. For example, “Whereas” begins a sentence fragment, while “However” and “Though” are placed in ways that do not clearly show the relationship between the ideas. The final paragraph also shifts between the two series without a smooth comparison. Organise the figures into clearer stages or compare both groups year by year, and use fewer, more precise transitions. This would make the sequence easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing trends, including “reduced,” “increased,” “peak,” and “declined,” so the main changes can generally be understood. However, the range is limited and several expressions are unnatural or imprecise, such as “repeated guests,” “initial arrivers,” and “the numbers of time visitors.” These choices make the description less clear and less suitable for an academic report. There are also spelling and word-form problems, including “nearlt” and “rised.” Use standard terms consistently, such as “returning visitors” and “first-time visitors,” and choose accurate trend phrases such as “fell by nearly half” or “reached a peak.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some longer sentence forms, including a contrast between the two visitor groups and a sentence describing the later trend. However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to make parts of the response awkward to read. Examples include “the first time visiting people was higher,” where the subject and verb do not agree naturally, and “The first time visitors numbers has always rised,” which has problems with agreement and verb form. Sentence boundaries and punctuation are also inconsistent: “2008.Overall” and “increased.Though” lack spaces, and “Whereas” is used as a fragment. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and build complete sentences with clear subjects and verbs before adding complex clauses.

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

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