Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-07
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 gives information about the number of visitors staying on a cruise ship and staying on the island at a particular Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017.
Overall, the total number of tourist that decided to stay both on the island and cruise ship established its peak in 2017. it had a total number of 3.5 million visitors. Also, the number of tourists that decided to stay on the ship fluctuated from 2010 to 2013.
In the year 2010, the total number of visitors that stayed on the cruise was above 0, it then rose to 0.5mil in 2011. it then declined between 2011 to 2012 to its initial value in 2010. It gradually rose back to the same value as it was in 2011 which was 0.5. It rose significantly from 2013 to 2017.
In addition, the amount of visitors that decided to stay on the island was above 0.5 million in 2010 it remained stable for one year . It then rose from 0.5 million to 1.5 million in 2013 where it remained stabled for two years.
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 the main features of the graph, identifying the overall trend and the peak in 2017. However, the analysis is incomplete. You failed to mention the total number of visitors in 2017 correctly based on the graph's data points, and the description of the island visitors stops abruptly in 2015, failing to report the final data for 2017. To reach a higher band, ensure all categories are tracked across the entire time period provided. The summary is a good start, but more precise data reporting and a complete overview of all trends are required.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'It then', 'It rose'). The transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is clear, but the internal flow within paragraphs could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words such as 'subsequently', 'meanwhile', or 'in contrast'. Referencing is generally clear, but the progression of ideas feels a bit disjointed due to the lack of sophisticated linking.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety. You rely heavily on basic verbs like 'rose' and 'stayed'. There is an attempt to use some specific terminology, but there are errors in word choice, such as 'established its peak' (reached its peak) and 'stabled' (remained stable). To improve, try to incorporate more precise descriptors for trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'surged', or 'plateaued', and ensure correct collocations are used to describe statistical data.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in punctuation and grammar. For example, 'it had a total number' should be capitalized, and '0.5mil' is informal for an academic report. There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage (e.g., 'the total number of tourist'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to lower the score. Focus on proofreading for basic sentence construction and consistent tense usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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