Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-03
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 provides the data about tourists who visited a specific Caribbean island from 2010 to 2017.
Overall, the total number of visitors increased every year but an exceptional case in one period. At the beginning of the period, visitors staying on cruise ships showed plateaued behavior, then surpassed the visitors staying on the island after four years. By this, the total number of visitors showed inclined growth.
At the start of the period, total visitors were 1 million, in which the share of visitors on the cruise ship and visitors staying on the island were one-fourth and three-fourths of the total share, respectively. From 2011 to 2015, total visitors followed the upward trend, with about 2.75 million visitors at the end of 2015. Visitors staying on cruise ships firstly showed a slight drop from 0.5 to 0.25 million, but after 2012 the upward trend was seen in it and moved to about 1 million at the end of 2015. Visitors staying on the island, at the start, showed inclined growth but remained steady from 2013 to 2015.
After 2015, visitors on cruise ships surpassed the visitors on the island and jumped to 2 million at the end of the period, while 1.5 million for the island. By this change, total visitors showed abrupt growth from about 2.5 to 3.5 million at the end of the period.
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
You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. You covered both categories (cruise ship and island stay) and made relevant comparisons, such as noting when one category surpassed the other. However, the accuracy of your data reporting is inconsistent. For instance, you state that at the start of the period, total visitors were 1 million, with cruise ship visitors being one-fourth (0.25m) and island visitors being three-fourths (0.75m); however, the graph shows 0.5m for both. This inaccuracy in data interpretation prevents a higher score. Ensure you carefully cross-reference your text with the visual data provided.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is generally clear, and you use some cohesive devices to link your points, such as 'At the start of the period' and 'After 2015'. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally imprecise, such as 'By this, the total number of visitors showed inclined growth'. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that pronouns clearly refer back to their antecedents would enhance the flow and coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'surpassed', 'plateaued', and 'upward trend'. However, there are some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'exceptional case in one period' and 'inclined growth', which is not a standard way to describe a graph. You also rely on some repetitive phrasing. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'remained stable', and ensure that your word choices are natural and contextually appropriate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'the total number of visitors increased every year but an exceptional case in one period' (missing a verb) and 'upward trend was seen in it' (awkward passive construction). Additionally, there are minor issues with articles and prepositions. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher band. Focus on subject-verb agreement and refining your use of passive voice to improve accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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