Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-24
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 given graph illustrates the number of individuals who visited a particular Caribbean island between year 2010 and 2017.
Overall, visitors who staying on cruise ships surged with the passage of time even though it showed some decreased in year 2012. Visitors staying on island showed some fluctuation while total number of visitors remain increasing throughout.
Firstly, in 2010 and 2012 number of visitors staying on the cruise ships was 0.2 million. In year 2011 and 2013 it reached to 0.5 million. After 2012 it statred increasing gradually and reached 1, 1.25, 1.5 and 2 million in year 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively.
Secondly, number of visitors staying on island was 0.75 million in year 2010 and 2011. But later in year 2012 it started increasing and reached 1.25 million. In 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017 visitors remained same at 1.5 million. Then in year 2016 it again decreased by 0.25.
Total number of visitors showed gradual increase in 6 year with 1, 1.25, 1.5, 2, 2.5, in year 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively. After 2026 it graph showed a huge increase in population and reached 3.5 million in year 2017.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features and making relevant comparisons between the three categories. An overview is provided in the second paragraph, outlining the general trends (cruise ship visitors surging, island visitors fluctuating, and the total increasing). Key data points are selected and cited across the period from 2010 to 2017. However, there are a few minor inaccuracies in reading the graph or reporting numbers—for instance, stating that cruise ship visitors were 0.2 million in 2010 and 2012 (the graph shows 0.25 million), and a typographical error in the final paragraph mentioning '2026' instead of '2016'. Despite these minor data slips, the main trends are adequately captured and supported, aligning well with the Band 6 descriptor.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a clear overall arrangement with a logical division into an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs dedicated to each category and the total. Cohesive devices are used to sequence the information, such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'After 2012'. However, referencing and cohesion are sometimes faulty or mechanical. For example, the transition between sentences can feel abrupt, and the use of 'Then in year 2016 it again decreased by 0.25' lacks smooth integration. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but overall the mechanical nature of the linking devices and slight structural awkwardness place this firmly in the Band 6 category.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting some less common phrases such as 'surged', 'fluctuation', and 'gradual increase'. However, there are notable word choice and spelling errors throughout the text, such as 'visitors who staying' instead of 'visitors staying', 'decreased' used as a noun ('some decreased'), and 'statred' instead of 'started'. These lexical inaccuracies and typos slightly impede communication in places, though the general meaning remains clear. This fits the Band 5.5 to 6.0 profile, leaning toward 6.0 because the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic data.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and time markers. However, grammatical accuracy is weak, with frequent errors including missing articles, tense inconsistencies, and subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'visitors who staying', 'total number of visitors remain increasing', 'it graph showed'). Punctuation and sentence structures show frequent slips that require the reader to work slightly harder to interpret the meaning. These errors place the response at Band 5.0, as the control over complex structures is limited and frequent errors persist.
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