Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-06

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 illustrates the counts of tourists visited a Caribbean island from 2010 to 2017 , measured in millions.

As observed , the counts of total tourists who visited Caribbean island showed an increasing trend, while the visitors staying on cruise ships and as same as on island showed a fluctuating trend.

Statistically , the number of total visitors increased rapidly by 2.5 million , rising from 1 million in 2010 and 3.5 million in 2017, quite a significant growth. Moreover, the counts of visitors staying on island were fluctuated till 2018 , But at last they got increased accounting a total growth of 1 million , inclining from 0.5 million to 1.5 million from 2010 to 2017.

Further, the numbers of visitors staying on cruise ships remained same till 2012 , after that there had been a gradual increase of 1.8 million , starting from 0.2 in 2010 and 2 million in 2017 , quite a massive growth.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the graph, including the overall trend and specific data points for total visitors, cruise ship passengers, and island stayers. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical. The mention of '2018' is a factual error, as the graph only extends to 2017. Additionally, the description of trends could be more analytical; for instance, comparing the growth rates between the two categories would have strengthened the response. While all parts of the task are addressed, the lack of a clear overview paragraph and the inclusion of inaccurate data points limit the score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the logical progression is slightly hindered by the lack of a distinct overview paragraph. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Moreover' and 'Further', but they are sometimes used in a repetitive or slightly unnatural way. The transition between the general trend and the specific data points is functional but could be smoother. The paragraphing is present but the internal structure of the paragraphs could be more cohesive to better link the data points to the trends described.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe trends (e.g., 'increasing trend', 'fluctuating', 'gradual increase'). However, there are some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'counts of tourists visited' (should be 'number of tourists visiting') and 'as same as on island' (which is unclear). The range is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more precise academic vocabulary to describe data movement and avoid repetitive phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as 'tourists visited' instead of 'tourists visiting', 'were fluctuated' (passive voice error), and 'accounting a total growth' (missing preposition). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the placement of commas and the capitalization of 'But' mid-sentence. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. The student should focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive versus active voice.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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