Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-11

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 illustrates the number of tourists visiting a particular Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017, measured in millions.

Overall, the total number of visitors increased significantly from the beginning year and it remained relatively stable for three years but then it shows a rapid increase again.

Initially, there were only one million total visitors recorded in 2010 where only 0.75 million tourists stayed on island and 0.25 million stayed on cruise ships, however, then it shows a rapid increase in the number of visitors and total figure reached 2.5 million in 2014 but then it shows less growth for next two years, moreover, after this slow growth period, its shows wonderful growth in the next year between 2016 and 2017 and reached 3.5 million total visitors.

By contrast, more tourists stayed on cruise ships in this time period and this number increased from 0.25 million in 2012 to 2 million in 2017, however, 1.5 million visitor figure maintained from 2012 to 2017 with a little decline in 2016 for the those who stayed on Caribbean island.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the graph, including the overall trend and the distinction between island and cruise ship visitors. However, the reporting of data is inconsistent and occasionally inaccurate. For instance, you mention 2.5 million total visitors in 2014, but the data points for island and cruise visitors are not clearly integrated to support this. Furthermore, the description of the trends is somewhat repetitive and lacks precision in comparing the two categories. To improve, ensure that you select the most significant data points and present them clearly, avoiding vague descriptors like 'wonderful growth'.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'but then it shows'. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the referencing is occasionally confusing, particularly in the final paragraph where the distinction between the two visitor types becomes blurred. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring clear transitions between sentences would enhance the flow of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. You rely on basic verbs like 'shows' and 'increased' repeatedly. Phrases such as 'wonderful growth' are not appropriate for an academic report, which requires neutral, objective language. There are also some minor issues with word choice, such as 'beginning year' instead of 'initial year' or 'base year'. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise reporting verbs and nouns related to statistical trends.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'its shows' (instead of 'it shows'), 'for the those' (unnecessary article), and issues with subject-verb agreement. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with several run-on sentences that lack proper conjunctions or full stops. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed accurately without losing clarity.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.