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 different tourists visiting a particular Caribbean island from 2010 to 2017. The unit of measurement is in million
Overall, it can be understood that the total number of indivduals visiting to the island was the highest in the year 2017 and compared to that lowest was the visitors who stayed on island.
In, 2010 the number of total visitors reached to the island was 1 million and the number slightly raised to 1.5 million in 2012 and from then it surged to around 2.7 million staying unchanged till 2016 before reaching at its peak(3.5 million) in 2017.
The number of visitors staying on cruise ships and island were fluctuating over the year. The quantity of visitors on ships was around 0.3 million in 2010, then moderately grew to 0.5 million in 2011 and the again came down to the same as in 2010 before rapidly increasing to 2 million in 2017. Whereas, initially indivduals staying on island was unchanged(0.5) till 2011, after that it went up to 1.5 million in 2 years(2013) and again stayed steadily for the 2 years(2015), then in the following year the figures slighlty decreased to around 1.3 million and at last in 2017 it came back to 1.5 million
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 for the total visitors, cruise ship visitors, and island stayers. However, the overview is slightly confusing; the phrase 'compared to that lowest was the visitors who stayed on island' is grammatically unclear and does not accurately reflect the data trends. While the key features are identified, the analysis of the fluctuations could be more precise. The report meets the requirements of the task by selecting relevant data and making comparisons, but the lack of clarity in the overview prevents a higher score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In 2010', 'Whereas', and 'then in the following year', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions feel mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'and the again came down'. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly in the overview where the comparison between categories is poorly articulated. Overall, the progression of ideas is evident, but the flow is occasionally interrupted by awkward phrasing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'fluctuating', 'moderately grew', and 'surged'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and minor errors, such as 'indivduals' (spelling), 'staying on island' (missing article), and 'the number slightly raised' (should be 'rose'). The vocabulary is sufficient to convey meaning, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band. The repetition of 'stayed' and 'number' also limits the lexical variety.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, including missing articles ('on island'), incorrect verb forms ('number slightly raised'), and punctuation issues (e.g., 'In, 2010'). Some sentences are clunky, such as 'the number of total visitors reached to the island was 1 million'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are persistent throughout the text. A greater focus on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage would improve the accuracy significantly.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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