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 displays the number of tourists in millions visiting a particular Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017.
The total number of tourists climbed non-stop in these years. They were 1 million in the starting year and were 3.5 million in final year. Visitors staying on cruise ships show very positive movement in these years. They grew from 0.25 million to 2 million in the final year. They experienced decline only in 2011 after that they expanded continuously. In comparison visitors staying on island were at 0.75 million in the starting year and remain at for an year. From 2011 to 2013 they increase moderately to 1.5 million and than again do not change for 3 years. Than they fall slightly in 2015 and slowly rose to 1.5 million in 2016. In contrast, the starting number of visitors staying on island was high but number of visitors staying on cruise ships was high in the final year.
To sum up, it should be noticed that the total number of visitors did not face any fall in these 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 upward trend and the specific data points for cruise and island visitors. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical, listing figures rather than synthesizing the information effectively. The comparison in the final sentence is accurate but could have been integrated more smoothly into the body paragraphs. While the key features are identified, the overview is quite brief and lacks a clear synthesis of the trends. To reach a higher band, you should focus on grouping data more logically and providing a more comprehensive summary of the overall trends rather than just listing individual data points.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and mechanical (e.g., 'In comparison', 'In contrast', 'To sum up'). Some transitions are awkward, such as 'than again do not change' and 'Than they fall', which disrupts the flow of the argument. The progression of ideas is generally logical, but the internal cohesion within paragraphs could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing is clearer throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely on basic verbs like 'climbed', 'grew', and 'increase' repeatedly. There are also some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'remain at for an year' and 'very positive movement', which are not standard academic expressions. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'plateaued', or 'surged', and ensure that your collocations are natural. The range is sufficient to communicate the main points, but it does not demonstrate the flexibility required for a higher band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'They were 1 million in the starting year' (should be 'The figure stood at...'), 'remain at for an year' (article error), and 'than again do not change' (should be 'then' and past tense). While these errors do not impede communication, they are noticeable and occur throughout the text. To achieve a higher score, you need to demonstrate better control over verb tenses and article usage, and aim for more error-free complex sentences.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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