Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-06
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 chart depicts the numbers of visitors traveling to a Caribbean island during 2010 to 2017.
Overall, visitors who staying on cruise ships were rose sharply and it was on a peak end of the time period. While the number of tourists staying on island slowly increased before remaining relatively stable. The total number of sightseers increased considerably throughout the period.
In 2010, the island received 1 million tourists in total, including 0.75 million visitors staying on the island and 0.25 million staying on cruise ships. The total number increased gradually to 1.5 million in 2012 before rising more sharply to 2 million in 2013 and 2.5 million in 2014. It then climbed to approximately 2.7 million in 2015, remained unchanged in 2016, and finally reached 3.5 million in 2017.
Regarding accommodation, the number of tourists staying on the island increased from 0.75 million in 2010 to 1.5 million in 2013. This figure then remained stable until 2015, dipped slightly to around 1.25 million in 2016, and recovered to 1.5 million in the final year. By contrast, the number of visitors staying on cruise ships fluctuated during the first few years but rose steadily from 0.5 million in 2013 to 2 million in 2017, surpassing the number of tourists staying on the island in 2016.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all key features of the graph, including the total number of visitors and the breakdown by accommodation type. You successfully identified the main trends, such as the overall growth and the crossover point where cruise ship visitors surpassed island-staying tourists. The overview is clear and highlights the most significant developments. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in the data reporting; for instance, you mention the total reached 3.5 million in 2017, which is accurate, but the description of the cruise ship trend as 'fluctuating' in the early years is slightly vague given the steady growth shown. Overall, the response is well-structured and addresses the prompt effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on total figures and accommodation types respectively. Cohesive devices such as 'In 2010', 'Regarding', and 'By contrast' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different aspects of the analysis. The progression of ideas is clear, and the relationship between the different categories is well-managed. The response flows smoothly, and the use of referencing is generally accurate throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision, using terms like 'sightseers', 'fluctuated', 'surpassing', and 'recovered'. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, which is generally successful. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'visitors who staying' (should be 'who were staying') and 'on a peak end' (should be 'at a peak by the end'). Despite these minor slips, the vocabulary is adequate for the task and does not impede communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While there are some grammatical errors, such as 'were rose sharply' (should be 'rose sharply') and 'visitors who staying' (should be 'visitors who were staying'), these do not significantly impede understanding. You show good control over time markers and comparative structures. To reach a higher band, focus on ensuring verb tense consistency and avoiding unnecessary auxiliary verbs. The majority of your sentences are clear, and the punctuation is generally accurate throughout the report.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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