Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-19

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)

This line graph illustrates the number of different tourists visiting the Caribbean island from 2010 to 2017. There are three different types of tourists visit the island.

Initially, 0.7 million visitors staying on island in [redacted phone] . there is no change in this year. but 2011 to 2013 it gradually increased and reached 1.5 million and stable in two years. After 2015, it will again drop to 1.3 million in 2016, then again increased to 1.5 million in 2017. While 2010, While Visitors stayed on cruise ships 0.25 million and rose up to 0.5 million in 2011. After that, it dropped to 0.25 million in 2012. In 2013, visitors gradually rose every year, and up to 2 million in 2017. Lastly, the total figure 1 million in 2010 and grew up to each year, and up to 2.8 million in 2015. After 2015, there is no change in one year and again rose up to 3.5 million.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The student covers all three data series in the graph (visitors staying on the island, visitors on cruise ships, and the total) and attempts to report main features and make comparisons. However, there are notable errors in data reading and reporting. For instance, the number of island-staying visitors in 2010 is reported as 0.7 million rather than 0.75 or 0.8, and the description of the timeline contains confusing grammar ('While 2010, While Visitors stayed on cruise ships...'). Furthermore, there is no clear overall overview provided, which is essential for a Band 7 score. The response touches upon the main trends but lacks precise articulation and a distinct summarizing overview.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The organization of the response is weak. The text is essentially split into only two paragraphs (an introductory sentence followed by a dense, single block of body text containing all data points), violating good paragraphing practices. Cohesive devices are used awkwardly or repetitively (e.g., 'After that', 'then again', 'Lastly'), and logical progression is disrupted by sudden shifts between the different data series within the same paragraph. Reference words are sometimes ambiguous, making it difficult for the reader to follow the flow of information smoothly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, incorporating standard trend-related verbs and nouns such as 'gradually increased', 'drop', and 'rose up'. However, there is a reliance on basic and repetitive lexical items. Errors in word choice and collocation are apparent, such as 'visitors staying on island' (missing article) and 'the total figure 1 million in 2010 and grew up to each year' (awkward phrasing). Less common lexical items are attempted but lack precision and naturalness.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The text displays a mix of simple and attempted complex structures, but grammatical control is weak. There are several severe structural errors and fragments, such as 'there is no change in this year. but 2011 to 2013 it gradually increased...' and the confused clause structure beginning with 'While 2010, While Visitors...'. Tense usage is inconsistent, shifting inappropriately between past and future ('it will again drop'). Punctuation errors are frequent, including missing capitalization and incorrect sentence splitting. These errors cause frequent strain for the reader.

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