Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-29

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 graphical representation illustrates the count of visitors came upon Caribbean Island during the year [redacted phone].

From the first glimpse of the line chart, it is abundantly clear that there was a significant rise in the number of visitors lingering on island. Whereas the total number of tourists has drastically increased throughout the period. At first, the count of visitors those who were staying on cruise ships accounted for 0.3 million in 2010. The number elevated by 0.2 million in 2011. In 2012, the number left its position and again hold out at 0.3 million. In 2013, the number again stand at 0.5 million and the number elevated and contacted at 2 million by 2017.

Moving further, the figure of tourists staying on islands accounted for 1.8 million in 2010 and remain constant by 2011 which boosted to 1.3 million during 2012. The next three years the number got fixed at 1.5 million. In year 2016, a slight decrease can be noticed and then the number further elevated and outstretched at 1.5 million in 2017. In case of total visitors, initially the number stood squat at 1 million in 2010 and then the number experienced a substantial increase and hold out at 3.5 million during 2017.

Overall, the number of guests staying on cruise ships elevated throughout the period. On the other hand, the number of invitees staying on island sustained a slight declined in number which further stick out to its rank.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided data points for the categories of tourists. However, the report suffers from significant inaccuracies in data interpretation. For example, you state the number of island visitors 'boosted to 1.3 million' in 2012, whereas the graph shows a decline from 1.8 million. Additionally, your description of the cruise ship data in 2012 as 'left its position and again hold out at 0.3 million' is confusing and inaccurate. While you cover all parts of the task, the lack of precision in reporting the figures prevents a higher score. To improve, ensure that your data points strictly match the visual evidence provided in the graph.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs for specific categories, and a summary. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Moving further' and 'Overall', but the flow is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing. For instance, the transition 'In case of total visitors' is slightly unnatural. The referencing is generally clear, but the logical progression within paragraphs is sometimes disrupted by the inaccurate data reporting mentioned in the task achievement section. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring they are used in the correct context will help improve the overall flow of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the main ideas, but there are frequent issues with word choice and collocation. Phrases like 'lingering on island', 'stand squat', and 'outstretched at' are not appropriate for an academic report. You also use repetitive phrasing such as 'the number elevated' and 'the number stand'. To reach a higher band, you should focus on using more precise verbs for describing trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'remained stable', and avoid informal or non-standard collocations that do not accurately describe statistical data.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'visitors came upon Caribbean Island' (missing article/preposition), 'the number left its position and again hold out' (incorrect tense/verb usage), and 'sustained a slight declined' (incorrect word form). While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors—particularly with verb tenses and article usage—prevents the writing from being considered error-free. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage when describing past data will significantly improve your accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.