Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-13
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 tracks the proportion of traveller's visiting a Caribbean island in the past two years from 2010 and 2017
Looking from overall perspective, the total tourists group showed a sharp increase while the visitor who stays there in island showed a volatile trend
Initially, the travellers staying on cruise ships showed 0.5 million in 2011 and increase sharply until 2 million in 2017. In terms of total visitors, at the beginning of period, the figure stood at1.5 million visitors in 2012.It then rose steadily, reaching 3.5 million in the year 2017.
By contrast, the visitors staying on island showed a volatile trend. In the initiation, it was roughly about 0.7 million and then soar upto 1.5 million in 2013 and then minimally decrease approximately 1.7 million , again slightly increase the same number in the year 2015 . The visitors live on the island showed fluctuating trend with the years.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| 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, including the overall trends and specific data points. However, there are significant inaccuracies in the data reporting. For example, you state the total visitors stood at 1.5 million in 2012, whereas the graph shows this figure for 2010. Furthermore, the description of the island visitors is confusing; you mention a 'minimal decrease' to 1.7 million, which is mathematically inconsistent with the provided figures. While you identify the main trends, the lack of precision in data extraction and the misinterpretation of the timeline (referring to the period as 'the past two years') prevent a higher score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In terms of', 'By contrast', and 'Initially'. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes hindered by awkward phrasing and mechanical transitions. For instance, the transition between the total visitors and the island visitors is abrupt. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the phrase 'the same number in the year 2015', which does not clearly link back to a specific previous value. Improving the flow between sentences would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'volatile', 'fluctuating', and 'soar'. However, there are noticeable errors in word choice and collocation that occasionally impede clarity, such as 'traveller's' (incorrect pluralisation) and 'the visitors live on the island' (should be 'staying on'). Some phrasing is repetitive, and the use of 'initiation' is not the most natural choice for describing the start of a period. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and ensuring correct word forms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('the total tourists group showed', 'the visitor who stays there'), incorrect verb tenses, and punctuation errors. For example, 'increase sharply' should be 'increased sharply' to maintain consistency with the past tense. While these errors do not completely prevent the reader from understanding the main points, they are frequent enough to distract from the content. More attention to proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy is required.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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