Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-07
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 depicts the total number of visitors visiting a Caribbean island for seven years.
Overall, the figures for total number of tourists increased gradually throughout the timeframe whereas, the people who stayed on island experienced a fluctuation over the period.
To begin with, In the year 2010, the number of visitors who stayed at island was roughly 0.75 million as it rose minimally around 1.2 million in year 2012. After then, the figures remained levelled off from 2013 to 2015 then it dropped down slightly in 2016 before reached at 1.5 million in the end of the period. Similarly, the visitors who stayed on cruise ships rose about 0,3 million then in the year 2015 and 2016 the number overlooked the number stayed on the island. And in 2017, the figures go up to 2 million.
On the other hand, the total number of tourists visiting the island was around 1 million by 2010. Then, the number witnessed a growth throughout the period and reached at 3.5 million by the end of the period.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the graph, including the total number of tourists and the two sub-categories (island stay vs. cruise ship). However, the reporting of data is sometimes imprecise or confusing. For instance, the phrase 'overlooked the number stayed on the island' is unclear, and the description of the cruise ship data lacks sufficient precision regarding the starting point. While the main trends are identified, the comparison between the two categories could be more effectively highlighted to fully meet the requirements of a Band 7. The overview is present but could be more clearly linked to the specific data points provided in the graph.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Overall', 'To begin with', and 'On the other hand', but some transitions are mechanical or slightly misused, such as 'After then'. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the referencing within the body paragraphs is occasionally confusing, particularly when switching between the two categories of visitors. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph focuses on a distinct, well-connected theme would improve the flow and coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe trends (e.g., 'increased gradually', 'witnessed a growth'). However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'remained levelled off', 'dropped down slightly', and 'the figures go up'. These errors do not impede communication but prevent the response from reaching a higher band. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise collocations for describing graphs, such as 'remained stable' or 'experienced a slight decline', and avoid repetitive phrasing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('the figures go up'), prepositional errors ('reached at 1.5 million'), and awkward phrasing ('the people who stayed on island'). While these errors are frequent, they rarely impede the reader's understanding of the data. To reach a higher band, the student needs to demonstrate better control over sentence construction and reduce the frequency of basic grammatical slips, particularly regarding verb tenses and article usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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