Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-28
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 line graph compares number of visitors staying on cruise ships, visitors staying on island and total tourists who are visting Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017.
Overall, total number of visitors remained the most highest throughout the period, while people staying on cruise ship experienced the most significant growth. In contrast, tourist staying on the island saw a marked decline.
In 2010, total visitors had approximately 1millions visitors, considerably more than the others. Their number rose to 3.5 millions in 2017. Tourist staying on cruise ship showed upward trend starting at only 0.3 million in 2010, fluctuated slightly before increasing to about 2 millions in 2010.
By contrast, people staying in hotel has downward trend, there are 0.7 millions people in 2010 then remained stable till 2011, after that it sharply rose and reached to 1.5 millions at the end of 2015. Then it slighty fall in 2016. In 2010 reached to limit making up 1.5 millions
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The student covers all parts of the task by reporting the main features and making relevant comparisons between the three categories on the graph. An overview is present, highlighting the overall dominance of the total visitors and the significant growth in cruise ship visitors. However, there are some data inaccuracies and minor confusions in the body paragraphs; for example, the student writes 'about 2 millions in 2010' for cruise ship visitors (which was actually 0.25 million in 2010, rising to 2 million in 2017) and confuses visitors staying on the island with hotel stays ('people staying in hotel'). Despite these lapses, the key trends and overall progression are adequately captured, placing the response securely in Band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response is organized into clear paragraphs, starting with an introduction, followed by an overview and two body paragraphs. Cohesive devices are used to signal shifts, such as 'Overall', 'In contrast', and 'By contrast'. However, referencing and logical progression within the body paragraphs occasionally falter, leading to mechanical or repetitive phrasing, especially towards the end of the text where sentences like 'In 2010 reached to limit making up 1.5 millions' lack clear cohesion and logical connection. Paragraphing is present and appropriate, supporting an overall coherent arrangement that meets the criteria for Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range for the task, attempting some less common lexical items such as 'significant growth', 'marked decline', and 'fluctuated slightly'. However, there are noticeable word choice and collocation inaccuracies, such as 'most highest' (a double superlative), 'tourist staying' instead of 'tourists staying', and 'slighty fall' instead of 'slight fall'. Spelling errors like 'millions' used incorrectly with singular articles ('1millions visitors') also occur. These errors do not impede overall communication, reflecting a solid Band 6.0 lexical level.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating time markers and comparative structures. However, grammatical accuracy is inconsistent. There are frequent errors in verb tense, article usage, and prepositions, such as 'total visitors had approximately 1millions visitors', 'Tourist staying on cruise ship showed upward trend', and 'there are 0.7 millions people in 2010 then remained stable'. Additionally, subject-verb agreement issues and awkward phrasing like 'reaching to limit' detract from the control of grammar. Because errors are frequent though communication remains mostly intact, a Band 5.5 is appropriate.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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