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 line graph depicts the information about the number of tourists visiting a particular Caribbean island from 2010 to 2017.
The number of visitors staying on cruise ships were not linearly increasing in fact, it increases upto 0.5 million in 2011 and dropped to the number of visitors same as in 2010 which were 0.025 million in 2012. From 2012 it goes on increasing by 0.5 million in 2013 , 1 million in 2014 , 1.25 million in 2015 , 1.5 million in 2016 and 2 million in 2017.The number of visitors staying on an island was stable at the beginning then it goes on increasing till 2013 by 1.5 million , it remained stable for 2 more consequent years . In 2016 the visitors dropped to 1.25 million , In 2017 it gained its visitors with previous number which were 1.5 million.
The graph of total number of visitors shows 1 million in 2010 and it increased upto 3.5 million in 2017.Overall, visitors staying on cruise ships increased by 2x whereas visitor staying in island increased by only 1x.
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 trends for cruise ship and island visitors. However, the data reporting is inconsistent and contains inaccuracies. For instance, stating the cruise ship visitors 'dropped to the number of visitors same as in 2010 which were 0.025 million' is confusing and mathematically imprecise based on the visual data. The overview provided at the end is helpful, but the analysis lacks a clear, professional tone. To improve, ensure that data points are accurately transcribed and that the summary highlights the most significant trends rather than listing every year's figure, which can lead to a mechanical and repetitive report.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally awkward, such as 'in fact, it increases' or 'it gained its visitors with previous number'. The transition between sentences is sometimes abrupt, and the logical flow within paragraphs could be improved by using more varied linking words. While the paragraphing is sufficient, the internal cohesion needs more attention to ensure that the relationship between the data points is clearly articulated for the reader.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. Phrases like 'goes on increasing' are repetitive and informal. There are also issues with word choice, such as 'gained its visitors with previous number', which is not standard English. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more sophisticated vocabulary related to trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stagnant', or 'experienced a sharp decline', and ensure that collocations are used accurately to convey the intended meaning without ambiguity.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('number of visitors... were') and awkward phrasing ('it increases upto'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas and periods. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on consistent verb tenses and correct sentence construction will significantly improve the quality of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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