Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-08
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 5.0)
The graph chart illustrate the number of visitors arrival in Caribbean island in 2010 to 2017.
Overall, total number of tourists showed a gradual increase with a little fluctuation .
The number of guests staying in cruise ships showed a little ups and downs in first two years. In 2011, 0.5 million people stayed in cruise ship but it went down to approximately 0.75 million guests in 2012. From 2012 , it started to increase dramatically and reached to 2 million guests in 2017 . However , tourists staying in island was more stable. In 2010, started with over 0.5 million visitors , went up to 1.5 million in 2013 and stayed stable till 2015. In 2016 , it decreased a little but gained its position in 2017 .
In total, visitors arrival in Caribbean island shows upward trend . 1 million people visited this island in 2010 and peaked 3 million visitors in 2017 .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main features of the graph, including the overall upward trend and the specific data points for cruise ship and island visitors. However, there are some inaccuracies in data reporting; for instance, you state that cruise ship visitors went from 0.5 million in 2011 to 0.75 million in 2012, which contradicts the visual data provided. Additionally, the description of the island visitors is somewhat vague. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are accurately transcribed and that the comparison between the two categories is more explicit. The overview is present but could be more clearly integrated to highlight the key differences between the two visitor types.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices like 'Overall', 'However', and 'In total' to link ideas. However, the progression between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the use of referencing is occasionally unclear. For example, the transition between the cruise ship data and the island visitor data is abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would enhance the flow of the response significantly. Paragraphing is present but could be more effectively utilised to separate the distinct trends.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is somewhat repetitive and lacks precision. Phrases like 'little ups and downs' and 'gained its position' are informal and imprecise. You rely on basic descriptors such as 'increase' and 'decrease' throughout the text. To improve, you should incorporate a wider range of academic vocabulary related to trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', or 'surged'. There are also some minor errors in word choice, such as 'visitors arrival' instead of 'visitor arrivals'. Expanding your range of collocations will help you convey information more professionally.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'The graph chart illustrate') and article usage (e.g., 'stayed in cruise ships'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring consistent use of articles. Attempting more complex sentence structures, such as using relative clauses or subordinating conjunctions, would also help demonstrate a wider grammatical range.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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