Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-11-02

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 given graph demonstrates the information about the number of first time visitors and returning visitors who visited Caryl island from 2000 to 2008. Overall, it can be seen clearly that the visitors who returns form the island was at its peak during the year 2006 while the number of first time visitors were least in the year 2000.

The number of visitors returned from the island increased significantly (10000) in 2002 which shows that the people were not happy in that year. After that, this number rose (15000) for next 4 years. Then, it faces bit decrease between 2006 and 2008.

Individuals who visits the Caryl island for the first time was at high numbers (8000) in 2000. Although, the number drops significantly (4000) for the next 2 years shows that people didn't like the island much. Then, it grows up from 2002 to 2008 with doubling the previous digit (12000).

AI examiner evaluation

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

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify both visitor groups and report several key movements, including the returning-visitor rise to about 15,000 in 2006 and the subsequent decline. However, some figures and comparisons are inaccurate: first-time visitors were about 11,800 in 2008, not 12,000 as a doubling from 2002, and returning visitors peaked at roughly 15,200 rather than 15,000. The overview also says first-time visitors were lowest in 2000, although their lowest point was 2002. Explanations such as visitors being unhappy or disliking the island are not supported by the graph. The response is 135 words, below the 150-word minimum; develop the overview and comparisons with accurate data rather than speculation.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by separate paragraphs for returning and first-time visitors. This grouping helps the reader follow the two series, and time markers such as “After that” and “Then” show some progression. However, the account is brief and the sequence of details is not always clear; for example, “rose (15000) for next 4 years” compresses the changes from 2002 to 2006 and leaves the endpoint unclear. Some linking is mechanical, and “Although” begins a sentence without a complete contrast structure. To improve, organise each paragraph around a clear trend, then support it with start, peak or end figures and use precise links between stages.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “increased significantly,” “drops significantly,” and “decrease,” and the reader can generally understand the trends you intend to describe. However, the range is limited and several expressions are imprecise or unnatural, such as “visitors returned from the island,” “it grows up,” and “doubling the previous digit.” These choices can obscure whether you mean visitor numbers or people’s opinions. Avoid interpreting the graph as evidence that visitors were unhappy; use neutral terms for numerical movement. More precise collocations such as “the number of returning visitors rose” and “reached a peak” would make the report clearer and more appropriate to an academic summary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt some longer sentences, including “Although, the number drops significantly … for the next 2 years shows that people didn't like the island much,” but the structure is faulty: the clause after “Although” is incomplete, and the subject of “shows” is unclear. There are also recurring problems with agreement and verb forms, as in “visitors who returns” and “Individuals who visits.” Articles and sentence boundaries need attention too, particularly “Caryl island” and the comma after “Although.” Most sentences remain understandable, but these errors make parts of the report awkward. Practise accurate simple trend sentences first, then combine them with controlled clauses using “while” or “whereas.”

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.