Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-26

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 chart tracks the count of the voyagers visiting a Caribbean island from 2010 to 2017. Data is measured in millions of people.

The line chart illustrates the number of tourists who visited specific Caribbean island from 2010 to 2017.

The line chart compares the number of tourists visiting a specific island in the Carribean, alongside the information of those staying on cruise ships or on-island facilities, over an eight period from 2010 to 2017.

As an overview, total visitors arrivals to the island significantly increased between 2010 and 2017. Additionally, while staying on the island was the preferred choice of the traveller, cruise ships accommodation soared ultimately passing the on-island amenities in the middle of the year2015.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While you have identified the main trends, such as the overall increase in visitors and the crossover point in 2015, the response is underdeveloped. You have provided three separate introductory sentences, which is repetitive and wastes space. To improve, you should focus on a single, clear introduction, a concise overview, and two body paragraphs that detail the specific data points for both cruise and on-island visitors. The current length prevents a full, detailed analysis of the data provided in the graph.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The text suffers from a lack of logical progression due to the repetitive introductory paragraphs. You have included three separate attempts at an introduction, which disrupts the flow of the essay. While you use some cohesive devices like 'Additionally' and 'while', the overall structure is fragmented. To improve, ensure you have one clear introduction, one overview paragraph, and distinct body paragraphs. Avoid repeating information or starting the same sentence multiple times. Using clear transition words between your body paragraphs will help guide the reader through your analysis more effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'soared', 'amenities', and 'preferred choice' used correctly. However, there are some awkward word choices, such as 'count of the voyagers' instead of 'number of tourists' or 'visitor arrivals'. Additionally, there is a spelling error ('Carribean') and some phrasing issues like 'in the middle of the year2015'. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise academic collocations and ensure consistent spelling. Expanding your range of vocabulary to describe trends—such as 'fluctuated', 'plateaued', or 'reached a peak'—would also be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The grammar is generally understandable, but there are several errors that affect the quality of the writing. For example, 'total visitors arrivals' should be 'total visitor arrivals', and 'eight period' should be 'eight-year period'. You rely mostly on simple sentence structures. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex sentence structures, such as using relative clauses or subordinating conjunctions to combine ideas. Pay closer attention to articles and pluralization, as these minor errors occur throughout the text. Proofreading for small slips will help improve your overall accuracy.

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