Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-11
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 information about the number of tourists visiting Caribbean island from 2012 to 2017.
Overall, it is clearly seen that the number of visitors have increased over the given period of time. However, the number of tourists staying in the cruise ships are higher than staying in on the island.
The number of total visitors were about 1 millions in 2010 but the number increased steadily till 2015. In 2016, a slightly fall is observed , after that in 2017, it rose dramatically and the number was about 3.5 millions. In terms of visitors staying on the island, have increased , starting from less than 1 millions in 2010 which reached to 2 millions by the end of the given period in 2017. It followed little ups and downs in the given time but most of the time it remained steady from 2013 to 2015.
However, in terms of visitors staying in the cruise ships were lower compared to the visitors staying in the island in the beigning
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main features of the graph, such as the overall upward trend and the comparison between cruise and island visitors. However, there are significant inaccuracies in data reporting. For instance, you state the total visitors were 'about 1 million' in 2010, whereas the graph shows a different starting point. Furthermore, the final sentence is incomplete ('in the beigning'), leaving the comparison unfinished. While the main trends are identified, the lack of precision in data and the incomplete conclusion prevent a higher score. To improve, ensure all data points are accurately transcribed and that every sentence is fully developed.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices like 'Overall', 'However', and 'In terms of', which provide a basic logical flow. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes hindered by awkward phrasing and missing information, such as the abrupt ending of the final paragraph. Referencing is occasionally unclear, and the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs could be smoother. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, complete focus.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'illustrates', 'dramatically', and 'steady'. However, there are several instances of word-choice errors and awkward collocations, such as 'a slightly fall' (should be 'a slight fall') and 'in the beigning' (spelling error). The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, focus on learning the correct word forms (e.g., noun vs. adjective) and common collocations used to describe trends in graphs.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('the number of visitors have increased' should be 'has increased') and incorrect preposition usage ('staying in on the island'). There are also punctuation errors and incomplete sentences. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors limits the score. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and proofread your work to ensure all sentences are grammatically complete.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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