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 line graph illustrates the number of tourists visiting a specific Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017. In the overview, it is clear that the number of tourists visiting the Caribbean island was higher than three million but lower than the highest value.

In 2010, the line of visitors staying on cruise ships started at zero million and then fluctuated, rising to 2 million in 2017. In 2010, the number of visitors who stayed on the island started at more than zero million, than it will climb to 1.5 million in 2013 and remained the same in 2014 and 2015. In 2010, the total number of visitors to the Caribbean island started at 1 million and rose to 1.5 million in 2012; it will climb to 2 million in 2013 grew to 2.5 million in 2014. It will fluctuate at 2.5 million in 2015 and 2016. In 2017, it will climb to 3 million.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The student attempts to cover the main trends in the line graph, but the overview provided in the first paragraph is vague and inaccurate, stating simply that the number was 'higher than three million but lower than the highest value.' Additionally, there are notable inaccuracies in reporting the data: for instance, the cruise ship category did not start at 'zero million' (it started at 0.25 million), and the final total reached 3.5 million in 2017, whereas the student incorrectly states it climbed to 3 million. Some data points are missed or misread, leading to a partial and somewhat flawed overview of the visual data. This places the response in Band 5.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response is organised into basic paragraphs, with an introduction and body paragraphs attempting to separate the data series. However, the progression is disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is repetitive and mechanical, relying heavily on time markers like 'In 2010' at the start of multiple sentences. Furthermore, referencing is weak, and the lack of clear logical links between the separate categories means the overall arrangement lacks smooth progression. Paragraphing is also rudimentary, as the overview is embedded awkwardly in the introductory sentence rather than forming a distinct summary statement. These issues are characteristic of a Band 5.0 performance.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is generally basic and repetitive, relying on standard terms such as 'number,' 'tourists,' 'visiting,' 'started,' and 'rose.' There are limited attempts to use less common or more precise vocabulary related to data trends, and some phrasing is unnatural or inaccurate, such as 'the line of visitors.' Word choice errors and imprecise reporting of quantities (e.g., 'more than zero million') restrict the range. However, the vocabulary is minimally adequate to convey basic ideas, satisfying the criteria for Band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control over grammar and tense consistency is weak. There is notable tense confusion, particularly inappropriate shifts into the future tense ('than it will climb,' 'it will fluctuate,' 'it will climb'), despite the data being in the past (2010-2017). Other grammatical errors include missing articles and awkward clause linking ('than' used instead of 'then'). While simple sentences are generally understandable, frequent errors in complex structures cause difficulty for the reader, placing this aspect at Band 5.0.

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