Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-25
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 who visited a Caribbean island from 2010 to 2017.
Overall, the total number of visitors increased significantly over the period, rising from 1 million to 3.5 million. While the number of visitors staying on island grew steadily at first then level off, the figure for tourists staying on cruise ships experienced a dramatic increase. In 2010, approximately, 0.7 million stay on the island, compared with only 0.25 million, whereas the figure for cruise visitors. By 2013, the number of island visitors climbed to around 1.5 million. From 2013 onward, growth from island - based tourism slowed, the number of tourists staying on cruise ships rose sharply from 0.5 million in 2012 to 2 million by the end of the period. Consequently, the total number of tourist increased steadily, reaching 2.5 million in 2014 before peaking at 3.5 million in 2017.
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 trend and specific data points. However, the response falls short of the 150-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the score. While the overview is clear, some data reporting is slightly confusing, such as the sentence 'In 2010, approximately, 0.7 million stay on the island, compared with only 0.25 million, whereas the figure for cruise visitors.' This sentence is grammatically incomplete and lacks clarity regarding the subject. To reach a higher band, ensure all data points are clearly linked to their respective categories and ensure the response meets the minimum length requirement to allow for full development of the task.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. However, the flow is occasionally disrupted by awkward phrasing and missing cohesive devices. For instance, the transition between the overview and the specific data is abrupt. The use of referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the second body paragraph where the connection between the figures and the categories is muddled. Improving the use of linking words like 'furthermore,' 'in contrast,' or 'subsequently' would help create a smoother progression of ideas throughout the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'increased significantly,' 'dramatic increase,' and 'peaking.' However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'level off' (should be 'leveled off') and 'growth from island - based tourism slowed.' The phrasing 'the figure for tourists staying on cruise ships' is repetitive. To improve, try to incorporate a wider range of synonyms and ensure that verb tenses are consistent with the time frame provided in the prompt. The current range is sufficient for basic communication but lacks the precision required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that impede clarity, such as 'the total number of tourist increased' (should be 'tourists') and the fragmented sentence structure in the second paragraph. There are also issues with verb tense consistency and subject-verb agreement. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that all sentences are complete would significantly improve the quality of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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