Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-24
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 number of visitors staying on cruise ships, tourists stayed on island and total number of travelers count in millions who visited Caribbean island in the years 2010 to 2017.
The total number of visitors are high in the entire years which is 1 million in the year 2010 and drastically increased throughout the period of time and reached to 3.5 millions in year 2017.
Both visitors who stayed at cruise ships, visitors on island shown significant changes with the time in which initially number of people at island was higher as compare to people on cruise with the numbers 0.7millions and 0.3 till year 2011. In year 2012 a drastic change came in which island tourism interest reduced to 0.1millions whereas, tourism interest on island got increased with over period of time till year 2015. Similarly, after year 2013 people moving towards island to stay with the time after year 2015 it increased the number to 1.5 millions comparatively.
All in all, trends to visiting the Caribbean island was showing the on average more demand with the time.
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 total number of visitors and the breakdown between cruise and island stays. However, the analysis is hampered by significant inaccuracies in interpreting the data. For instance, the claim that island tourism 'reduced to 0.1 millions' in 2012 and then increased is not clearly supported by the visual trends, and the description of the data is often confusing. While the overview is present, the reporting of specific figures lacks precision and clarity, making it difficult for the reader to follow the trends accurately. To improve, focus on identifying the most significant peaks and troughs and describing them with precise data points.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is often disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes misused, such as 'In year 2012 a drastic change came in which...' and 'Similarly, after year 2013...'. These transitions do not effectively link the data points to the overall trend. Furthermore, the referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult to distinguish between the categories being discussed. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, logical focus would significantly enhance the flow of the writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'drastic change', 'significant changes', and 'increased' are used frequently without much variation. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'total number of travelers count' and 'tourism interest on island got increased'. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the lack of precise terminology for describing trends (e.g., 'fluctuated', 'surpassed', 'remained steady') limits the score. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more varied and precise vocabulary to describe statistical changes.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('total number of visitors are high'), missing articles ('visited Caribbean island'), and awkward phrasing ('people moving towards island to stay with the time'). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence construction often feels forced or unnatural. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles, as these errors are quite frequent throughout the text.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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