Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-15
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 measured in millions visiting a carribean island from 2010 to 2017.
Overall, it is clear that the total number of tourists visiting a carribean island has soar substantially over the period. In addition, the visitors who staying on island see a decline after remained relatively stable in later year. By contrast, visitors staying on island has grow significantly throughout the period.
The total number of tourists visiting a carribean island started at just 1 millions in 2010 but the number doubled in 2013 and skyrocketed to 3.5 millions in 2017. In 2010, the number of visitors who plan on staying on cruise ships contributed less than half a millions at roughly 2.5 millions. Over the following 7 years, however, the figure soar greatly over the period, from half a millions in 2013 to 2 millions in 2017, surpassing visitors who staying on Island.
On the other hand, the number of visitors staying on island climbed gradually from approximately 7 millions in 2010 to 1.5 millions in 2013. The number remained fairly steady over the period.
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, including the overall trend and specific data points. However, there are significant inaccuracies in the data reporting. For instance, you state that visitors staying on cruise ships started at 'roughly 2.5 millions' in 2010, which contradicts the visual data. Furthermore, the description of the trends is sometimes confusing, such as the claim that the number of visitors staying on the island remained 'fairly steady' after previously stating it grew significantly. To improve, ensure that your data extraction is precise and that your summary of trends aligns logically with the figures provided in the graph.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear attempt to use cohesive devices such as 'Overall,' 'By contrast,' and 'On the other hand.' However, the flow of information is occasionally hindered by confusing transitions and repetitive phrasing. For example, the second paragraph mentions 'visitors who staying on island' twice in quick succession with conflicting information. While the paragraphing is appropriate for the task, the internal cohesion within paragraphs needs to be more precise to ensure the reader can follow the comparison of data points without confusion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'skyrocketed,' 'surpassing,' and 'contributed.' However, there are frequent errors in word choice and form, such as 'soar' instead of 'soared,' 'grow' instead of 'grown,' and 'millions' used incorrectly as a plural noun when preceded by a number (e.g., '1 millions'). Additionally, 'carribean' is misspelled. To reach a higher band, focus on using verb tenses correctly and ensuring that nouns are used accurately in relation to numerical values.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'visitors who staying' instead of 'visitors who stayed') and incorrect verb forms (e.g., 'the figure soar' instead of 'the figure soared'). There are also errors with articles and pluralization. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of these basic grammatical slips prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for verb tense consistency would be highly beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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