Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-31

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 gives information about the number of tourists visiting a particular Caribbean island from 2010 to 2017. Units are measured in millions.

Overall, the number of visitors staying on island showed a steady but significant rise over the period, while the number of visitors staying on cruise ships experienced downward trend.

First of all, in 2010, the number of visitors staying on the cruise ships was 0.2 million, then, it followed an upward trend, approximately 0.5 million in 2011. In 2012, this was in the same situation which was in 2010. In the next three years (2013,2014 and 2015), it followed an sharply upward trend from 0.2 million to 1.2 million. In the next two years (2016 and 2017) it went from 1.5 million to 2 million.

On the other hand, the number of visitors staying on the island, in 2010 and 2011, the figure remained steady at 0.7 million. Then, it followed an upward trend, approximately 1.3 million in 2012. Following this, in the next three years (2013,2014 and 2015), the figure remained steady at 1.5 million. After that, in 2016, it followed a short downward trend from 1.5 million to 1.1 million. In the last year it went to 2 million.

Finally, the total number of visitors, in 2010 was 1 million, in 2011 it remained upward was 1.2 million. In the next four years (2012,2013,2014, and 2015), they followed sharply upward from 1.5 million to 2.7 million. In 2016 the figure remained steady at 2.7 million, in the last year it went to 3.5 million.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided data to support your points. However, there is a significant issue with the accuracy of your data reporting. For instance, you state that cruise ship visitors experienced a 'downward trend', yet the graph shows a clear overall increase from 0.2 to 2 million. Furthermore, your description of the data is often contradictory; you claim the cruise ship figures were 0.5 million in 2011, but the graph shows them at 0.2 million. Accuracy is a key component of Task Achievement in Academic Task 1. To improve, ensure you carefully cross-reference your written figures with the visual data provided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs focusing on specific categories. You use some cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand' and 'Finally' to signal transitions. However, the progression of ideas within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear. For example, the phrase 'this was in the same situation which was in 2010' is awkward and impacts the flow. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would help you achieve a higher band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'steady', 'upward trend', and 'downward trend'. However, there are instances of word choice errors and repetitive phrasing. For example, you use 'followed an upward trend' multiple times, which limits the sophistication of your writing. Additionally, some collocations are unnatural, such as 'remained upward was 1.2 million'. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise synonyms for movement, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'surged', and ensure your phrasing is grammatically integrated.

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. Issues include missing articles (e.g., 'staying on island'), incorrect verb forms (e.g., 'they followed sharply upward'), and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'it remained upward was 1.2 million'). While your meaning is generally understandable, these errors are persistent. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions when describing data points. Proofreading for basic sentence construction errors will significantly enhance the quality of your writing.

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