Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-22
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 line graph illustrates the value of visitors travel to Caribbean island over the 7 years from 2010 to 2017 measured in millions.
Overall the rate of visitors increased over the time. The number of tourists staying on the island rose steadily and remained largest group throughout. By contrast to the tourists staying on cruise ship fluctuated initially but experienced sustainable growth towards the end of the period.
In 2010, approximately 0.75 million tourists stayed on the island as compared to 0.25 million stayed on cruise ships. The former figure then increased gradually to 1.5 million and remained stable from 2013 to 2015. Then decrease slightly to 1.25 million in 2016. And then maintain the value of tourists 1.5 million in 2017.
The number of cruise ship visitors followed a less consistent pattern. It rose from 0.25 million to
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, as it is incomplete and cuts off mid-sentence. While the introduction and overview are present, the analysis of the data is unfinished, meaning the task is not fully addressed. Key features are identified, such as the overall upward trend and the comparison between the two groups, but the lack of completion prevents a full development of the data. To improve, ensure you complete the analysis of all trends and provide a full summary of the data presented in the graph.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, and there is a logical progression from the introduction to the overview and the body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'By contrast', and 'In 2010' are used to link ideas. However, because the text ends abruptly, the overall coherence is disrupted. The referencing is generally clear, but the mechanical nature of the transitions and the incomplete state of the final paragraph limit the flow of information. Further development of ideas and a complete conclusion would improve the logical structure.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'fluctuated', 'sustainable growth', and 'remained stable' used correctly. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and phrasing, such as 'value of visitors travel' instead of 'number of tourist arrivals' and 'largest group' instead of 'the largest group'. The range is sufficient to convey the main points, but it lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. Focusing on more academic collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing will help improve this score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, including missing articles ('on Caribbean island'), incorrect verb forms ('decrease slightly' instead of 'decreased'), and punctuation issues, such as starting sentences with 'And'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to be noticeable. To reach a higher band, you should focus on subject-verb agreement, consistent tense usage when describing past data, and ensuring that sentences are complete and correctly punctuated.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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