Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-17

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 illustration gives information about millions of visitors traveling to a Caribbean island in between 2010 and 2017.

Overall, with the pessage of time, the total number of visitors increased.

It is quite evident from the line graph that in 2010 around one million visitors visited the Caribbean island and majority of them prefered to stayed on the island. In contrast, very few visitors stayed on cruise ships. In 2013 out of the 2 million pessangers stayed on the island. As compare to half a million visitors that stayed on cruise ships.

Furthermore, by 2016 the preference of visitors to stay on the island changed. Majority of visitors were now staying on cruise ships. By 2017, out of 3.5 million visitors majority prefered to stay on cruise ships.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the response. While you have identified the main trends, the analysis is incomplete. You have not provided a comprehensive overview of the data, and the description of the trends is somewhat superficial. For instance, you mention the 2013 figures but do not provide a clear comparison of the two categories as requested. To improve, ensure you cover all data points and provide a more detailed summary of the key features, including the starting and ending points for both cruise ship and island stay categories.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into short paragraphs, which helps with readability. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat disjointed. You use basic cohesive devices like 'Furthermore' and 'In contrast', but the flow between sentences is often mechanical. The lack of sufficient length makes the overall structure feel underdeveloped. To improve, try to use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that connects logically to the next. The referencing is generally clear, but the overall cohesion could be strengthened by better connecting the data points within the paragraphs.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for a higher band. You rely on simple terms like 'majority' and 'prefered'. There are also several spelling errors, such as 'pessage' instead of 'passage', 'prefered' instead of 'preferred', and 'pessangers' instead of 'passengers'. These errors are noticeable and detract from the professional tone of the report. To improve, focus on using more varied and precise vocabulary related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'surpassed', or 'accounted for', and ensure you proofread your work carefully to eliminate basic spelling mistakes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that impede clarity. For example, 'in between 2010 and 2017' is redundant, and 'As compare to half a million' is grammatically incorrect. There are also issues with verb tense consistency and sentence fragments, such as 'As compare to half a million visitors that stayed on cruise ships.' To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and subject-verb agreement. Ensure that every sentence has a clear subject and verb, and practice using complex structures like relative clauses or passive voice more accurately.

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

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