Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-29
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 illustrates the number of visitors who visited Caribbean island from 2010 to 2017.
This can be seen from the line graph that visitors staying on cruise ships marked the same number in 2010 and 2012, which is 0.3 million. Then, it rose steadily. In the final year, it reached 2 million. Visitors staying on island followed fluctuated trend. Between 2010 and 2011, it remained constant and then decreased slightly and again went up. In 2017, it noticed 1.5 million tourists.
Turning to the total number of visitors. In the beginning period of around two years, it marginally increased from 1 to 1.5 million. After that, again it increased significantly, and in two years it increased 1 million visitors. But between 2015 and 2016, it remained constant. Later on, it sharply rose and reached 3.5 million in the final year.
Overall, the figure followed an upward trend. The cruise ships were the most popular for staying purpose compared to staying on island.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
The response covers all the main trends and features presented in the line graph, including the overall upward trajectory, the distinct trajectories of visitors staying on cruise ships versus those staying on the island, and the total figures. Key data points are accurately reported, such as the starting point of 1 million total visitors, the rise to 3.5 million in 2017, and the specific figures for cruise ship visitors reaching 2 million. However, the final overview sentence contains a slight inaccuracy, stating that cruise ships were more popular for staying purposes compared to staying on the island, whereas the graph indicates that cruise passengers only surpassed island stayers towards the end of the period. Nevertheless, the main parts of the task are well addressed, fulfilling the requirements for Band 6.5 to 7.0.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response is organized into four paragraphs, including an introduction, two body paragraphs detailing the specific categories, and an overview conclusion. Logical progression is generally maintained through time markers and sequential phrases such as 'Between 2010 and 2011', 'After that', and 'Later on'. However, paragraphing is slightly fragmented, particularly with the division of the body of the text, and some cohesive devices feel mechanical or repetitive ('and then', 'again it increased'). Reference is mostly clear, though occasional cohesion lapses occur, such as the incomplete sentence structure in 'Turning to the total number of visitors.' Overall, the arrangement provides a coherent framework, aligning with a Band 6.0 performance.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully conveying trends and quantities through terms like 'rose steadily', 'remained constant', 'decreased slightly', and 'sharply rose'. The student attempts some less common vocabulary and collocation, such as 'followed fluctuated trend' (which contains a grammatical error) and 'significant' increases. There are occasional word choice and phrasing errors, such as 'visitors staying on island' (omitting the article) and 'noticed 1.5 million tourists' instead of 'stood at' or 'reached'. While spelling is generally accurate, the range is somewhat limited and lacks the flexibility seen at higher bands. This performance fits comfortably into Band 6.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses ('visitors who visited') and temporal subordinate clauses. However, there are noticeable grammatical errors throughout the text. Examples include 'visited Caribbean island' (missing article), 'followed fluctuated trend' (incorrect adjective form for 'fluctuating'), and 'It can be seen from the line graph that visitors... marked the same number... which is 0.3 million' (tense inconsistency). Punctuation is generally functional, but control over complex structures is inconsistent, and errors occasionally require the reader to re-read. The proportion of error-free sentences places this writing at a Band 6.0 level.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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