Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-28
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 how many tourists taken a Caribbean island as their prefered destination from the year 2010 to 2017. Taking everything into consideration, the total figures are increasing gradualy except between 2015 and 2016 where the number of tourists stays constant.
With regards to the vistors who spend their trips to The Caribbean island on cruise ships, there is a continuous positive change with approximmately a rate of 0.60 millions of vistors from 2012 to 2017. However, in 2011, the number of tourists declines from 0.5 millions during 2011 to 0.25 millions in 2012.
In relation to visitors staying on island, the line increase constatntly between 2011 and 2013. Nevertheless, the figures are stable over the periods 2010 to 2011 with 0.75 millions of visitors and 2013 to 2015 with 1.5 millions of tourists. In 2016, a negative decrease of 0.25 million of visitsors is clear.
To conclude, even though there are some minor fluctuations in the number of tourists arriving to the Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017, the predominant pattern is that more and more tourists are going to this island.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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 upward trend and specific data points for cruise and island-stay visitors. However, the analysis is slightly hampered by inaccuracies in data interpretation. For example, you mention a 'negative decrease' in 2016, which is redundant, and the description of the cruise ship trend as a 'rate of 0.60 millions' is mathematically unclear. While you identify the main trends, the reporting of figures could be more precise to fully meet the requirements of a higher band. To improve, ensure that comparisons are clearly linked to the specific years provided in the graph.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs focusing on specific categories, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices such as 'With regards to', 'However', and 'In relation to' are used to guide the reader. However, the flow is occasionally interrupted by mechanical phrasing, such as 'Taking everything into consideration' at the start of the overview, which feels slightly disconnected from the data. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the transition between the cruise ship data and the island-stay data could be smoother to enhance the overall coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'predominant pattern', 'fluctuations', and 'destination'. However, there are several spelling errors ('gradualy', 'vistors', 'approximmately', 'constatntly', 'visitsors') and some awkward word choices, such as 'negative decrease' and 'taken a Caribbean island as their prefered destination'. These errors do not impede communication, but they do limit the score. To reach a higher band, focus on accurate spelling and more precise collocations, such as 'the number of tourists increased' rather than 'the line increase'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt to use complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'how many tourists taken' (should be 'how many tourists took' or 'the number of tourists who visited') and 'the line increase constatntly' (should be 'the line increased constantly'). Subject-verb agreement and tense consistency are areas that require attention. Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear throughout the text. Increasing the accuracy of verb forms and ensuring consistent tense usage will help improve your score in this criterion.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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