Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-04

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 LINE GRAPH TRACKS THE CHANGES IN MILLIONS OF VISITORS VISIT ISLAND YEARLY.

HERE, WE CAN SEE THREE DIFFERENT LINES INDICATE NUMBER OF TOURISTS SPENT THERE TIME ON CRUISE, ISLAND AND TOTAL VISITOR.

LINE WHICH HAS CIRCLE AND SOILD LINE INDICATES TOTAL VISIOTS. HOWEVER, OTHER TWO LINES WHICH HAVE SQUARES AND TRIANGLES REPLESENT TOURISTS STAY ON SHIPS AND ON ISLAND RESPECTIVLY.

TOTAL VISITORS ARE GRAUALLY INCREASE IN 2010 TO 2015 AND GOES 1 TO 2.75. BUT THERE IS STEADY IN 2015 TO 2016. IN 2016 TO 2017 THERE WERE IN SUDDEN INCRESE IN MILLONS OF VISITOS.

MOREOVER, PEOPLE STAYS ON CRUISE IS MORE IN COMPARE TO PEOPLE STAYS ON ISLAND TILL 2015. BUT THERE WERE DRASTIC CHANGE IN 2016 PEOPLE PREFERED TO STAY ON ISLAND RATHERE THAN SHIPS.

IN CONCLUSION, TOTAL AMOUNT OF TOURIST IS INCRASED IN THE YEAR OF 2010 TO 2017 EITHER THEY CHOOSE ISLAND OR CRUISE AT CARIBBEAN ISLAND.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the graph, such as the overall upward trend and the crossover point in 2016. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. The description of the data is inconsistent; for instance, the mention of '1 to 2.75' lacks units (millions), and the description of the 2015-2016 period as 'steady' is inaccurate, as the graph shows a decline for cruise visitors. The summary is present but lacks a clear overview of the most significant trends. To reach a higher band, you should provide more precise data points and ensure the overview captures the most striking differences between the categories.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'Here, we can see' and 'However, other two lines' feel disjointed. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when referring to the lines. While there is a logical progression from the total visitors to the breakdown of cruise versus island stays, the lack of sophisticated linking words makes the flow feel somewhat stilted. Improving the variety of transition signals would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, with several spelling errors such as 'soild' (solid), 'visiots' (visitors), 'graually' (gradually), 'increse' (increase), and 'replesent' (represent). The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic meaning, but there is little attempt to use less common or more precise terminology. The phrasing is often awkward, such as 'spent there time' instead of 'spent their time'. To improve, focus on accurate spelling and using more varied verbs and nouns to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'surpassed', or 'remained constant'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('people stays', 'total amount of tourist is incrased') and missing articles ('in 2016 to 2017 there were in sudden increse'). Punctuation is also inconsistent. While the meaning is generally clear despite these errors, the lack of complex sentence structures and the high frequency of basic grammatical mistakes limit the score. You should practice using subordinating conjunctions and ensuring consistent verb tenses when describing past data.

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

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