Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-05
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 represents the number of tourists visiting a Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017.
Overall, it is evident that the total number of visitors visiting was recorded the highest by 2017.
whereas, the visitors staying on island and visitors staying on cruise were approximately have slight difference.
Initially, the total number of visitors have constantly increased with 3.5% by 2017. The visitors staying island were constant between 2013 to 2015. Therefore by 2016 it had a slight drop approximately 0.5%. In Addition to that it has again reached to 1.5% during 2017.
Regarding the visitors staying on cruise ships have a decent number of increased visitors. The visitors were way less than 0.5% till 2013, There was a surge after 2013. The visitors staying on the cruise ships as recorded 2.5% by the 2017 which was the next highest number of visitors visiting the Caribbean island during these different years
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses the task by summarizing the main trends in tourist numbers. However, the data interpretation is problematic. You describe the trends using percentages (e.g., 'increased with 3.5%'), but the graph likely represents absolute numbers (millions). This misinterpretation of the data units significantly impacts the accuracy of your report. While you identify the overall trend and compare the two categories, the lack of precision in reporting the figures prevents a higher score. To improve, ensure you carefully analyze the axes and labels of the graph before writing to ensure your data reporting is factually accurate.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices like 'Overall,' 'Initially,' and 'Regarding,' which provide a basic framework. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes disjointed, and the use of cohesive devices is occasionally mechanical or misused, such as the awkward transition 'Therefore by 2016 it had a slight drop'. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult to track which data point is being discussed. Improving the variety and precision of your linking words will help create a smoother, more professional progression of ideas.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. You rely on repetitive phrasing, such as 'number of visitors' and 'staying on island'. There are also some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'approximately have slight difference' and 'decent number of increased visitors'. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more varied and precise vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated,' 'peaked,' or 'remained stable,' and ensure that your terminology for data trends is accurate and natural.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'the total number of visitors visiting was recorded the highest' (awkward passive construction) and 'The visitors staying island were constant' (missing preposition). There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage throughout the text. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors suggests a need for more careful proofreading and a stronger grasp of basic sentence construction and prepositional usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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