Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-20
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 visitors visiting carribbean island from 2010 to 2017.
The total number of visitor is increased from begining years .
In 2010, total one million vistior visit island but the numer of people staying on cruise ship is less than the number of visitors staying on island.
In 2011, more than one million visitors visit island and only 0.5 million of visitors staying on cruise ship and approximately 0.6 million of visitors staying on island .
Furthermore , in 2012 the total number of visitors are 1.5 million , only approximately 0.3 million persons staying on cruise ships while more than one million people staying on island .
From 2013 to 2015, the number of visitor staying on island reamin same , also the number of visitors stying on cruise ship is gradually increased.
In 2016,the total number of visitors is more than 2.5 million , but the number of vistors staying on cruise ships is decreased to 1.3 million approximately and 1.5 million persons staying on island.
In 2017 , the total number of visitors is 3,5 million and the number of people staying on cruise ships is lmore than the number of peoples staying on island .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| 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 visitors staying on the island versus those on cruise ships. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical, listing data year-by-year rather than synthesizing the information into clear trends or significant comparisons. While the key features are identified, the lack of a clear overview or summary paragraph limits the score. The data provided is generally accurate, but the report would benefit from grouping years with similar trends to demonstrate a more analytical approach to the data.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized chronologically, which provides a basic logical flow. However, the use of cohesive devices is repetitive and somewhat mechanical, relying heavily on simple time markers like 'In 2010', 'In 2011', and 'Furthermore'. Paragraphing is insufficient; the response consists of a series of short, disjointed sentences that lack sophisticated linking. Referencing is occasionally unclear, and the transition between ideas feels forced rather than fluid. To improve, you should use a wider variety of linking words and group related information into distinct paragraphs to create a more cohesive structure.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'total number of visitors' and 'staying on island' are used repeatedly throughout the text. There are also several spelling errors, such as 'carribbean', 'vistior', and 'reamin'. While the meaning is generally clear, the range of vocabulary is limited, and there is little attempt to use more precise or academic terminology to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'remained stable'. Expanding your range of synonyms and focusing on accurate spelling will significantly improve your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response relies primarily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'total number of visitor is increased', 'visitors are 1.5 million') and article usage (e.g., 'visiting carribbean island'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to distract the reader. To reach a higher band, you should practice using a mix of complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses or subordinating conjunctions, and pay closer attention to basic grammatical rules.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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