Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-03
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The graph below shows the number of tourists visiting a particular Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
The graph illustrates the number of tourists of Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017.
In this graph there are three needles that shows the comparisons of how many visitors stayed on cruise ships, visitors stayed on the island and the total number of millions of visitors stayed on cruise ships and the visitors stayed on the island between 2010 and 2017.
In early 2010, 0.3 million of visitors stayed on cruise ships and 0.7 million of visitors stayed on island. The total of them are approximately 1 million of visitors that stayed on cruise ships and island. In 2011, 0.5 million of visitors stayed on cruise ships and 0.7 million of them stayed on island and the total is 1.3 million of visitors. In 2012, 0.3 million of visitors prefer to stay on cruise ships and 1.5 of them stay on island the total of them are 1.5 million visitors. In 2013, the number of visitors stayed on ships are 0.5 million and 1.5 million of them stayed on island the total of 2013 is 2 million of visitors. In 2014, 1 million of visitors stayed on ships and 1.5 on island and at the end total of 2014 is 2.5 million. In 2015, 1.4 million stayed on ships 1.56 on island and total is 2.6. In 2016, 1.5 million visitors stayed on ships 1.4 on island and total is 2.6 million at the end in 2017, 2 million visitors stayed on cruise ships and 1.5 million on island and total is 3.5 million visitors.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the graph, including the trends for cruise ship visitors, island visitors, and the total. However, the report is essentially a list of data points for each year, which lacks the analytical synthesis required for a higher band. While you have identified the key trends, you have not grouped the information effectively to highlight significant comparisons or contrasts. For example, noting that cruise ship visitors showed a more consistent upward trend compared to the relative stability of island visitors would have improved the quality of the response. The data is presented accurately, but the lack of an overview or summary of the main trends limits the score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the progression of ideas is mechanical and repetitive. Each sentence follows a similar structure ('In [year], [number] of visitors...'), which makes the text feel like a list rather than a cohesive report. There is a lack of varied cohesive devices to link the data points smoothly. While the reader can follow the chronological order, the transitions between sentences are weak, and the use of referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the phrase 'the total of them are'.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. You frequently use the same phrases, such as 'number of visitors stayed on' and 'total of them'. There is little evidence of a wider range of vocabulary that would allow for more precise description of trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', 'surged', or 'peaked'. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of variety in word choice prevents the response from achieving a higher band. Spelling is generally accurate, but the phrasing is often unnatural.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement and preposition usage, such as 'number of tourists of Caribbean island' instead of 'to the Caribbean island' and 'total of them are' instead of 'the total was'. There is a lack of complex sentence structures, and the punctuation is sometimes inconsistent. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to suggest a limited control over grammatical range and accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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