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.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The information in the chart illustrates the number of first time visitors and returning visitors to caryl from year 2000 to 2008.

In the year 2000 the number of first time visitors was relatively high at approximately 8000 compared to the returning visitors which were only 3000, the first time visitors started to decrease gradually to 6000 in 2001 and then 4000 in year 2002 where as the number of returning visitors increaed dramatically to 10000 in the period of 2 years, furthermore the returning visitors kept increasing until the year 2006 which were approximately above 15000 and then decreased to 13500 people in 2008, however first time visitors also gradually increased in number over the years and peaked at 12000 in the final year of the given data.

The number of returning visitors spiked after the year 2000 until 2006 and then the numbers decreased in the last two years, where as the first time visitors increased gradually after the year 2002.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify both visitor groups and report the main overall patterns: returning visitors rose to a high point in 2006 before falling, while first-time visitors increased after 2002 and finished at their highest level. Several figures are also accurately represented, including 8,000 and 3,000 in 2000 and about 10,000 returning visitors in 2002. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: first-time visitors fell from 8,000 to 4,000 between 2000 and 2002, rather than decreasing gradually to 6,000 in 2001, and the graph gives no 2001 figure. The response also lacks a distinct overview and does not clearly compare the two groups at the end. A concise overview and more precise selection of key changes would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response follows a broadly understandable time sequence, and the final sentence restates the main trends. However, most of the information is packed into one very long sentence, joined by repeated connectors such as “and then,” “furthermore,” and “however.” This makes the progression difficult to follow and weakens the distinction between the two visitor groups. The second sentence largely repeats information already given rather than adding a new comparison. Organise the report into clear paragraphs—for example, an overview followed by details for each series—and use shorter sentences with more precise links. This would improve the overall progression and reduce the repetitive, sometimes mechanical cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “decrease,” “increased,” “peaked,” and “spiked,” so the main trends are generally clear. Some choices are less precise or natural for describing a graph: “the number ... were only 3000” is awkward, and “spiked” suggests a sharper rise than the graph necessarily shows. There are also spelling errors in “caryl” and “increaed,” and the repeated use of “number” and “visitors” limits variety. Aim for accurate collocations and a little more flexibility, such as “stood at,” “rose steadily,” or “reached a peak.” These refinements would make the description more precise without requiring unnecessarily complex vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex structures, including time clauses and comparisons, and the intended meaning is usually understandable. However, some sentences are overloaded with clauses, which leads to punctuation and grammatical problems. For example, the long sentence beginning “In the year 2000” joins several complete ideas with commas, creating a run-on structure. There are also agreement and article issues in “the number ... were” and “in year 2002.” Use shorter sentences and check that singular subjects such as “the number” take singular verbs. The phrase “which were approximately above 15000” also has an unclear grammatical reference; write, for example, “the figure was approximately 15,200.”

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