Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-30
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 bar graph illustrates the number of tourists visiting a particular area in Caribbean Island in 2010 and 2017.
Overall, we can see upward trend of total visitors curve which clearly represented that the increased in number of visitors in Caribbean Island. Similarly, in recent years, number of visitors stayed on island and stayed in cruise ship both are increased.
Firstly, regarding visitors staying on cruise ship, in 2010 to 2011, number of visitors increased but suddenly decreased and reached almost 0.2 million. After 2012, it started to increase gradually and peaked in 2017 at 2 millions. Secondly, we can see major fluctuation on visitors who stayed on island during the given period. From 2010 to 2011, the no. of visitors remained same at 0.5 million. Afterwards, it started to rise and peaked in 2013 with 1.5 million visitors. Then, the number of visitors remain unchanged unit 2015. After that, It decreased and after 2016, it started to increase slowly.
In contrast, total number of visitors increased from 2010 to 2015 and became 2.7 million visitors. Then, it decreased for a year. Afterwards, It rose dramatically and reached peak with 3.5 million visitors.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the graph, including the trends for cruise ship visitors, island stayers, and the total figures. However, the analysis is somewhat inconsistent. For instance, the statement that visitors 'remained same at 0.5 million' from 2010 to 2011 is inaccurate based on the visual data, and the description of the total visitor trend is slightly confusing in its chronological reporting. While the key features are identified, the lack of precision in data reporting and some inaccuracies in interpreting the trends prevent this from reaching a higher band. To improve, ensure that data points are read precisely and that the overview clearly synthesizes the most significant trends rather than just listing them.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'In contrast' are used to guide the reader. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by mechanical phrasing and some awkward transitions. For example, the phrase 'After that, It decreased and after 2016, it started to increase slowly' is a bit repetitive and lacks smooth integration. The use of referencing is generally clear, but the overall progression of ideas could be more sophisticated to achieve a higher score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe trends such as 'upward trend', 'fluctuation', and 'rose dramatically'. However, there are instances of limited or repetitive word choice, such as the frequent use of 'number of visitors' and 'increased'. There are also some minor errors in collocation and word form, such as 'increased in number of visitors' instead of 'increase in the number of visitors'. To reach a higher band, the student should aim for a wider range of synonyms and more precise collocations to describe statistical changes.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('on island', 'on cruise ship') and subject-verb agreement ('the increased in number', 'visitors remain unchanged unit 2015'). Punctuation and capitalization errors, such as 'It decreased' (mid-sentence), also occur. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for basic articles and verb tenses would significantly improve the accuracy of the writing.
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.