Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-18
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 below provides information about the number of tourists who visited Caribbean island over the given period.
Overall, the total number of tourists in increased considerably over the period. The number of tourists staying on the island rose initially and then remained relatively stable, while the number of visitors staying on cruise ships fluctuated at first before increasing sharply. By 2017 the total number of tourists and visitors of cruise ships had reached their highest levels.
In 2010, 1 million tourists visited the islands and cruise ships.
Around 0.75 million stayed on the island, compared with only 0.25 million who stayed on cruise ships. The total number rising modestly over the period and then rocketed in 2017 3.5 million.
Meanwhile, the number of tourists staying on the islands rose to about 1.5 million in 2013, while cruise-ship visitors fell slightly to around 0.25 million in 2012 before increasing to 0.5 million in 2013. From 2014 to 2015, the total number of tourists continued to rise, reaching approximately 2.75 million. In 2016, a number of tourists staying on island fell to about 1.25 million, while cruise-ship visitors saw a rise from 1.25 million to 1.5 million. Finally, in 2017, both figures increased, reaching 1.5 million and 2 million respectively.
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
You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. You covered both categories (island stayers and cruise-ship visitors) and made relevant comparisons. However, there are some inaccuracies in the data reporting. For instance, you state that in 2010, the total was 1 million, but the graph shows 0.75 million for island stayers and 0.25 million for cruise ships, which is correct, yet your later claim that the total 'rocketed in 2017 to 3.5 million' is not supported by the visual data, which shows 1.5 and 2.0 million respectively. Ensure your data extraction is precise to avoid misrepresenting the information provided.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile,' 'In 2010,' and 'Finally' to guide the reader through the timeline. However, the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is slightly abrupt, and some sentences lack smooth flow, such as the sentence fragment 'The total number rising modestly over the period and then rocketed in 2017 3.5 million.' Improving the connection between these clauses would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fluctuated,' 'sharply,' and 'modestly' to describe trends. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'a number of tourists staying on island' (missing an article) and 'visitors of cruise ships' (should be 'visitors to' or 'on'). While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on using more precise collocations when describing data trends.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. However, there are several grammatical errors, including missing articles ('staying on island'), incorrect verb forms ('total number of tourists in increased'), and sentence fragments ('The total number rising...'). While these errors are noticeable, they rarely impede the reader's understanding of the data. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles when referring to specific groups or locations.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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