Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
The graph illustrates the number of tourists visiting a particular Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017. The overall graph shows the number of tourists as in millions and compare the throughout the year 2010 to 2017.
Firstly, the number of visitors staying on cruise ships increase till the year 2015 and remain same to 2016 which later peaked in year 2017.
Likewise, the number of visitors staying on island remain same from 2010 to 2011 before rising in the year 2012 to 2013 and again remain same throughout the year 2013 to 2015 which later fell in between 2015 to 2017.
In total the number of visitors rise in 2011 before falling in between 2011 to 2013 and started to rise till 2017.
Overall, the highest number of visitors was the one staying on cruise ship in 2017 increasing up to 3.5 and the lowest was the ones staying on island up to 1.5.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main features of the graph, such as the trends for cruise ship and island visitors. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview of the overall trends. While you mention the highest and lowest points, the summary of the 'total' visitors is confusing and does not clearly synthesize the data provided. To improve, ensure that your overview highlights the most significant trends (e.g., the steady growth of cruise ship visitors versus the decline in island stays) rather than just listing data points. The reporting of figures is generally accurate, but the lack of a cohesive summary of the main trends limits the score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and mechanical, relying heavily on simple transitions like 'Firstly' and 'Likewise'. The progression of ideas within paragraphs is occasionally disjointed, particularly in the paragraph discussing the 'total' number of visitors, where the logic is difficult to follow. To improve, try to use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each sentence flows logically from the previous one. Referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to track which data point is being discussed.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'remain same' are used multiple times, which limits the range. There is a lack of variety in describing trends; for example, you could use 'stabilized', 'remained constant', or 'plateaued' instead of 'remain same'. Additionally, there are minor errors in word choice, such as 'compare the throughout the year', which is grammatically awkward. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise vocabulary to describe statistical changes, such as 'fluctuated', 'surged', or 'experienced a downward trend'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempts at complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('number of visitors... remain same') and tense inconsistencies ('number of visitors rise in 2011'). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence structure is often repetitive. To improve, focus on ensuring consistent verb tenses when describing past data and work on varying your sentence structure to include more complex clauses. While the errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the overall fluency of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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