Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The graph illustrates the number of tourists visiting a specfic Caribbean island over a period of seven years. Figures are given in millions.

Overall, visitors staying on cruise ships and visitors staying in island fluctuated in early years, while tourists staying on cruise ships is dramatically increased and leveled off between 2015 and 2016. On the other hand the total number significantly increased throughout the time period.

To commence with, in 2010, visitors staying on cruise slightly rose 0.2 million to 0.5 million till 2011, afterthat it steadily declined into round about 0.15 million. In contrast to tourists staying on island remained stable 0.8 million for one year then it climebed up more than 1 million. In addition, visitors staying on cruise minimaly dropped below the 1 million than it surge and both are plateaue between 2015 to 2016 then visitors staying on cruise ship dropped, while tourists satying on island surged.

However, total number throughout increased it started in 1 million and grew 3.5 million over a period of seven years.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The student attempts to cover the main trends in the graph, noting the overall increase in total visitors and differentiating between cruise ship visitors and those staying on the island. However, the response contains several inaccuracies and misinterpretations of the data, such as stating that visitors staying on cruise ships leveled off between 2015 and 2016 when the data actually shows a continuous rise or plateaus elsewhere. The overview is somewhat confused, and the selection of data points is erratic and hard to follow, which prevents a fully clear report of the main features. This performance aligns with a Band 5.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response is organized into paragraphs, attempting an introduction, an overview, and body details. However, the logical progression is frequently disrupted by confusing transitions like 'To commence with' and 'However, total number throughout increased'. Cohesive devices are often used inaccurately or mechanically, and referencing between sentences is weak, making it difficult for the reader to follow the flow of comparisons. Paragraphing is present, but overall internal cohesion needs significant strengthening to achieve a higher score. This corresponds to a Band 5.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The student demonstrates a limited range of vocabulary with noticeable errors in word choice and form, such as 'specfic', 'climebed', 'minimaly', 'surge', and 'plateaue'. While some topic-related terms like 'tourists', 'visitors', and 'island' are used adequately, imprecise phrasing and spelling mistakes impede communication at times. The lexical control is insufficient for more precise descriptions of trends and fluctuations. This performance fits a Band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but many attempts at complex forms are faulty and feature frequent grammatical errors, such as 'while tourists staying on cruise is dramatically increased' and 'in contrast to tourists staying on island remained stable'. Punctuation and tense control are also problematic throughout the text. These frequent errors cause difficulty for the reader and reflect Band 5.0 descriptors.

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

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