Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-23
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 number of tourists visiting a specific Caribbean island throughout the period of 2010 to 2017.
Overall, figure represents the number of visitors in millions and presents a upward trend. Total number of tourists hit a peak over the period, while visitors staying on cruise ship increased significantly and visitors choosing islands fluctuated throughout the period.
Total estimated tourists took a start from 1 million by 2010, showed a constant surge 1.5 million by 2012, 2 million by 2013, 2.5 million by 2014, 2.7 in 2015 then graph remained constant till 2016 before exhibiting a tremendous rise of 3.5 million in 2017.
Tourists staying on cruise ships demonstrates a substantial growth over the period, started from 0 in 2010, then showed a tremendous fluctuation till 2013 reached to 0.5 million. In 2014, plummeted to 1 million visitors, 1.5 million in 2016 and 2 million in 2017. Tourists staying on Island started nearby to 1 million in 2010, showed a constant figure till 2011 then rose to 1.5 million in 2013 where line graph remained unchanged till 2015. Then a slight decline in figure recorded before reaching it maximum 1.5 million visitors again.
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 categories of tourists. However, there are significant inaccuracies in data reporting. For instance, you state that cruise ship tourists 'plummeted to 1 million' in 2014, but the data shows an increase from 0.5 to 1 million. Additionally, the description of the island tourists contains contradictory information regarding the figures. While you identify the key trends, the lack of precision in reporting the data points prevents a higher score. To improve, ensure that your summary of the data is mathematically accurate and clearly distinguishes between the three categories provided in the graph.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Overall' and 'In 2014', to link ideas. However, the progression within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical, and the use of referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the final paragraph where the reference to 'it maximum' is grammatically confusing. The transition between the general overview and the specific data points is acceptable, but the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect the trends more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fluctuated', 'substantial growth', and 'constant surge'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'took a start' instead of 'started at' and 'constant figure' when describing a trend. Some phrasing is slightly awkward, such as 'reaching it maximum'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band. Focusing on more natural collocations for describing trends will enhance your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as missing articles ('on cruise ship', 'on Island') and subject-verb agreement issues ('figure represents', 'graph remained'). Additionally, there are punctuation and phrasing errors, such as 'reaching it maximum' and 'Total estimated tourists took a start'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the overall clarity of the report. Increasing the accuracy of your sentence construction and proofreading for basic articles and prepositions will help improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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