Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-27
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 graph illustrates the number of tourists visiting a particular Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017.
Overall, the total number of visitors and which are staying on cruise ships and which are staying on island are described by the graph. In this description, I will discussed the average number of tourists staying on the island by two different accomodation means in the 7 years from [redacted phone].
By observing the graph, It is stated that Total number of visitors who visited the island were about 1 Million in 2010, which had gradually escalated and till 2017 the number of tourists were 3.5 million which are far more than 2010. Later on, it was described that the number of visitors staying on island were less than the individuals on cruise ship.
The number of average tourists on cruise ship were 0.5Million in 2011 and which had fallen in 2012 but then it gradually surged from 2013 to 2017. Similarly, the trend for visitors staying on island also shows that the average ratio was 0.8million from 2010 to 2011 which was suddenly increased in next 6 years.
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 addresses the task by summarizing the main trends, but it lacks precision in data reporting. While you identify the overall increase in visitor numbers, the specific data points are often vague or inaccurate. For instance, stating the total was 'about 1 Million in 2010' and '3.5 million' in 2017 is acceptable, but the description of the cruise ship and island stay trends is confusing and lacks clear comparative analysis. You mention an 'average ratio' which is not a standard way to describe the data provided. To improve, ensure you select key features and support them with accurate figures from the graph, rather than using vague descriptors like 'suddenly increased'.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the flow of ideas is somewhat disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is limited and occasionally mechanical, such as 'By observing the graph' and 'Later on'. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when you refer to 'the individuals on cruise ship' without clearly linking them to the previous sentence. The transition between the overview and the body paragraphs could be smoother. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, logical focus that connects back to the main trend.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. You rely on repetitive phrasing such as 'number of tourists' and 'number of visitors'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'accommodation means' and 'average ratio'. While the meaning is generally clear, the range of vocabulary is limited, and there is little attempt to use more sophisticated or academic language to describe trends (e.g., 'fluctuated', 'plateaued', or 'significant growth'). Expanding your repertoire of trend-related verbs and nouns will help improve your score in this area.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
There are several grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow of the text. You have issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'the number of tourists were 3.5 million') and tense consistency (e.g., 'I will discussed'). Additionally, there are errors with articles and prepositions, such as 'staying on island' instead of 'staying on the island'. While you attempt some complex sentence structures, they are often marred by these errors. To improve, focus on basic grammatical accuracy, particularly subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles, before attempting more complex sentence constructions.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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