Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-25

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 graph provides information about a specific Caribbean island visited by a number of tourists during the period between 2010 and 2017.

Overall, it is evident from the data that there is gradual increment in number of tourists from 2010 to 2017. From 2010 to 2015 , the number of visitors staying on islands is greater than staying on cruise ships.However, starting from 2015 there was a gradual decline in visitors those were staying on islands and substantial rise in visitors those were staying on cruise ships.

In 2010, there was total of 1 million tourists visiting Caribbean island,among which 0.7 million were residing on island and 0.3 million on cruise ships.In 2011, total tourists number increased to about 1.2 millions followed by 1.5 millions in 2012.In next years there was considerable rise in tourists 2 millions in 2013, 2.5 millions in 2014 followed

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The student covers the main trends of the graph and makes some relevant comparisons between tourists staying on cruise ships and those staying on the island. An overview is present, noting the overall upward trajectory and the shift between the two categories of visitors around 2015. However, there are some inaccuracies in reading specific data points, such as stating there were 0.7 million island residents in 2010 when the figure was closer to 0.75, and rounding errors in subsequent figures. Furthermore, the response cuts off abruptly mid-sentence and fails to reach the 150-word minimum requirement, resulting in a penalty to the task achievement score.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has an identifiable overall progression, beginning with an introduction, moving to an overview, and then attempting to detail specific data points. Paragraphing is attempted, although the structure is fragmented due to the sudden cutoff at the end. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Overall', 'However', and 'In 2010', but some linking is repetitive or awkward, such as 'visitors those were staying'. Referencing is mostly clear, but the lack of completion in the final paragraph detracts from the overall logical flow and coherence of the report.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting less common phrases such as 'gradual increment', 'substantial rise', and 'considerable rise'. However, there are notable lexical and collocation errors, such as 'increment' instead of 'increase', and awkward phrasing like 'visitors those were staying on islands'. Word choice is sometimes imprecise, and spelling/word formation issues emerge. Nevertheless, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the general meaning of the data to the reader without causing major communication breakdowns.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing introductory prepositional phrases and relative clauses, as seen in 'visitors those were staying on islands'. Grammatical control is inconsistent; there are missing articles ('a total of 1 million', 'on island'), incorrect prepositions ('staying on islands' instead of 'on the island'), and relative clause errors ('visitors those were'). While some sentences are accurate, the frequent minor errors and the incomplete final sentence prevent the writer 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.