Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-15
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 presented multi-line graphs illustrates the number of visitor visited Caribbean island for different purposes such as staying on cruise shups, staying on island and total visitors from 2010 to 2017. The data are given as millions.
Overall, It can be clearly seen that the highest number of tourists recorded under the total visits. Conversely, the lowest people preferred to staying on island.
To begin with, in the year 2010 approximately 1 millions of visitors visited Caribbean island. It was gradually increased till end of the year 2017. It was almost 3.5 millions. Which was the highest number of visitors recorded in Caribbean island. Furthermore, proportion of visitor staying on island was around 0.8 millions. Which were remain same in 2011. After that, It mildly rose at 1.5 millions during the year 2013 and remain constant till the year 2015. Afterwards, the figure fluctuated and reached at 1.5 millions in the year 2017.
Moving to the rest of the information, in 2010 number of travelers decided to staying on cruise ships. It was just 0.3 millions. Moreover, It fluctuated till the year 2013 and slightly increased at 0.5 millions. Furthermore, after 2013 it moderately went up till the year 2017 about 2 millions.
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
The student attempts to address the task by summarizing the main features of the line graph showing tourist numbers between 2010 and 2017. An overview is attempted, noting the total visits and island stays. However, there are several inaccurate data reports; for instance, the student states that the total number of visitors in 2010 was 'approximately 1 millions' (which matches), but misinterprets the start of cruise ship visitors ('number of travelers decided to staying on cruise ships. It was just 0.3 millions' in 2010, which actually started around 0.25 millions). Comparisons are sometimes vague or poorly linked, and some data points lack precise framing. Consequently, the response covers the general trends but lacks the precise data reporting required for higher bands.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The text is organized into four paragraphs, following a logical layout of introduction, overview, and two body paragraphs detailing the categories. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'Moving to the rest of the information', though some transitions feel a bit mechanical or forced. Paragraphing is adequate and helps separate the visual categories (total/island vs. cruise ships). However, referencing is occasionally imprecise, and the flow between sentences is sometimes disrupted by awkward phrasing or abrupt shifts in data points.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, with attempts at less common items such as 'proportion', 'fluctuated', and 'moderately went up'. However, there are frequent word choice and collocation errors, such as 'number of visitor visited', 'cruise shups' (spelling error), 'lowest people preferred to staying', and 'mildly rose'. These lexical errors and awkward formations detract from the overall precision, placing the response firmly in the Band 5.5 to 6.0 range where vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks consistent accuracy and control.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting relative clauses ('Which was the highest number') and time clauses. However, control of grammar and punctuation is inconsistent, with frequent basic errors. Examples include fragment sentences starting with 'Which', incorrect verb forms ('preferred to staying', 'decided to staying', 'were remain same'), and unnecessary capitalization or punctuation fragmentation ('Overall, It can be...'). These errors cause some difficulty for the reader and prevent the text from achieving a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.