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 line graph illustrates the number of tourists visiting a Caribbean island and also illustrating the number of visitors staying on either a cruise ship or on the island between 2010 to 2017.
Overall, the graph shows a gradual increase in the total number of visitors. Wheras there is a sharp rise overall in the number of tourists prefering to stay on the cruise ship . However, the line showasing the number of people staying on the island is mostly plateued .
From 2010 to 2015 , the total number of tourists rose from 1 million to gradual rising and reaching more than 2.5 million tourists in 2015. Wheras the number of visitors staying on cruiseships although stagnant from 2010 to 2011 the numbers rose from approx 0.7 million to approximately 1.5 million in 2015. Similarly the number of tourists staying on the island plummeted from 0.2 million approximately to more than 1.2 million visitors in 2015.
The number of tourists visiting the Caribbean island peaked in 2017 with there being 3.5 million total visitors. Futhermore, the number of people opting to stay on the cruise ships was also the highest in 2017 with approximately 1.5 million tourists .A huge surge was seen for tourists staying on the island as 2 million people stayed on the island itself
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
You have successfully identified the main trends and provided relevant data points to support your summary. You covered the total number of visitors as well as the breakdown between cruise ship and island stays. However, there are some inaccuracies in your data reporting; for instance, you mentioned the number of island visitors 'plummeted' from 0.2 million to 1.2 million, which is a contradiction as this represents an increase. Additionally, the overview could be more precise by clearly highlighting the contrasting trends between the two categories of visitors. Ensure that your data interpretation aligns strictly with the visual information provided to avoid factual errors.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of information. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'However', and 'Furthermore' to link ideas. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as starting a sentence with 'Wheras'. There are also instances where the flow between sentences is disjointed, particularly in the third paragraph where the transition between the total figures and the specific categories could be smoother. Improving the variety and accuracy of your linking words will help achieve a higher band score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'illustrates', 'gradual increase', 'stagnant', and 'surge'. However, there are several spelling errors, such as 'Wheras' (Whereas), 'prefering' (preferring), 'showasing' (showcasing), and 'cruiseships' (cruise ships). Additionally, the word 'plummeted' is used incorrectly to describe an upward trend. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, these errors and the misuse of specific lexical items limit the precision of your writing. Focusing on accurate spelling and context-appropriate word choice will improve your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, including issues with subject-verb agreement ('the line showasing... is mostly plateued') and punctuation errors, such as unnecessary spaces before commas. Some sentences are also structurally awkward, such as 'The number of tourists visiting the Caribbean island peaked in 2017 with there being 3.5 million total visitors.' While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to suggest a need for more careful proofreading and a better grasp of sentence construction and punctuation rules.
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