Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-02

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 graph demonstrate the number of visitors in millions in a specific Caribbean island between the year 2010 to 2017.

It is noticeable that the total number of tourists have increased drastically in the time frame of 7 years. It's visible that the number of visitors first started to be 1 million and raise to be 3.5 millions. The dotted and dashed graphs shows the comparison of visitors staying on island and cruise ships. At first, the number of people staying on cruise ships were relatively less as compared to the people choosing to stay on island. The gap was close in year 2011. The trend remain almost identical until mid 2015. In mid 2015, both the number of people staying on cruise ships and island were equal. After that, the trend shift and people choosing to stay on cruise ships grow to be 2 million comparatively to 1.5 million staying on island.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the graph, including the overall upward trend and the intersection point in 2015. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you mention the start and end points, you could improve by providing more specific data points for the intermediate years to better illustrate the growth. Additionally, the description of the categories (cruise ships vs. island stay) is clear, but the report lacks a cohesive summary of the total visitor numbers versus the individual categories. To reach a higher band, ensure you highlight the most significant changes and provide a clear overview of the data trends.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized logically, moving from an introduction to a description of the trends. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the entire body of the report is contained within a single paragraph, which hinders the logical flow. While you use some cohesive devices like 'At first' and 'After that', the transitions between sentences can feel a bit mechanical. To improve, try to group related information into distinct paragraphs—for example, one for the overall trend and another for the comparison between the two visitor types—and use a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, allowing for clear communication. You use some relevant terms such as 'drastically', 'comparison', and 'identical'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'raise to be' (should be 'rose to') and 'trend shift' (should be 'trend shifted'). The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. To achieve a higher score, incorporate more precise reporting verbs and nouns related to data trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'surpassed', or 'a significant surge'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There are several grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally distract the reader. For example, 'The graph demonstrate' should be 'The graph demonstrates' (subject-verb agreement), and 'number of tourists have increased' should be 'has increased'. Additionally, there are tense inconsistencies, such as 'the trend remain' instead of 'remained'. While you attempt some complex structures, the control over these is inconsistent. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and maintaining a consistent past tense when describing historical data will significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.

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