Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-27

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 multiple line chart demonstrates the signficant number of tourists visiting a specfic Caribbean island from 2010 to 2017.

At the beginning of 2010, Total visitors was the highest visiting a Caribbean island, at around 1 million of visitors, this figure increased slightly almost 1.5 millions by 2012. While it had grown rapidly, reaching 2.5 millions in 2014. However, at the end of 2017 it had reached largest point at nearly 3.5 million of visitors.

Moreover, Visitors staying on cruise ships were the lowest visiting a Caribbean island, at almost 0.3 millions of visitors, this figure fluctuated throughtout the period between 2011 from 2013 . However, it had made up, visiting at approximately 1 millions in 2014. one year letter it had grown up, accounting for 1.5 millions of visitors in 2016 . At the end of 2017, the number of tourists visiting staying on curise ships were reaching 2 millions of visitors.

Furthermore, the number of visitors staying on island were visiting at roughly 0.7 millions by 2010 to 2011. it had climbed steadly to 1.5 millions of visitors between 2013 from 2015. However, it decreased slighly, representing 1.2 millions and at end of 2017 it had remained same level visiting as comparded in from 2013 to 2015.

Overall, the number of total tourists visiting were the highest visiting a Caribbean island and the number of visitors staying on cruise ships were the lowest visiting a Caribbean island.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response covers all parts of the task by reporting the main features of the chart and making relevant comparisons between the three categories. The student correctly identifies overall trends, such as the growth in total visitors and the fluctuations in cruise ship and island-stay tourists. However, there are some inaccuracies in reading the specific data points. For instance, the student states that total visitors in 2010 were at 'around 1 million', which is correct, but minor imprecisions occur elsewhere, such as describing cruise ship visitors in 2010 as 'almost 0.3 millions' (it was 0.25). The overview provided at the end is rather basic and repetitive. Despite these minor data reading slips, the main trends are successfully outlined, meeting the requirements for a Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response is organized into clear paragraphs, starting with an introduction, followed by body paragraphs for each data category, and concluding with a summary. However, the logical progression within paragraphs is sometimes hindered by awkward referencing and mechanical cohesive devices. For example, the transitional phrases 'While it had grown rapidly' and 'one year letter' create choppy transitions and unclear pronoun referencing (e.g., 'it' frequently lacks a clear antecedent in complex sentences). Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate categories, but overall the cohesion can be faulty and repetitive, placing this response firmly in the Band 5.5 to 6.0 range.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The student attempts a range of vocabulary relevant to reporting data, such as 'increased slightly', 'fluctuated', 'grown rapidly', and 'decreased slightly'. However, there are numerous spelling errors ('signficant', 'specfic', 'throughtout', 'curise', 'comparded', 'slighly') and awkward word choices ('visiting staying on', 'reached largest point'). The repetition of the phrase 'visiting a Caribbean island' throughout the text limits lexical variety. Less common vocabulary is attempted with noticeable inaccuracies in collocation and word formation. This performance aligns with Band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but control over grammar is weak. There are frequent errors in tense usage, subject-verb agreement, and prepositions, such as 'Total visitors was the highest visiting' and 'between 2011 from 2013'. Punctuation is also problematic, with incorrect capitalization ('Total', 'Visitors'), unnecessary comma splices, and run-on sentences. Complex structures tend to be faulty, and errors frequently cause some distraction or difficulty for the reader, which is characteristic of a Band 5.0 response.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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