Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-30
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 4.5)
The illustrate graph shows the number of tourists visiting of island increased. In 2010 to 2017 the visitors staying on cruise ships increase and the visitors staying on island also increase and the number of total visitor also increased.
In 2010; Total was 1 million. 0.75 million stayed on island, which was higher than the cruise ships at only 0.25 million.
In 2010 to 2013; Total was 2 million. 1.5 million stayed on island, it increased 1m to 1.5m, and 0.5m stayed on cruise ships, it increased 0.25 to 0.5.
In 2013 to 2016; Total was 2.7 million. 1.3m stayed on island, it decreased 1.5m to 1.3m, and 1.5m stayed on cruise ships, it increased 0.5 m to 1.5m.
In 2010 to 2017; total was 3.5 million. 1.5m stayed on island, it increased 0.75m to 1.5m, and 2m stayed on cruise ships, it increased 0.25m to 2m. Number of tourists visiting a Caribbean island in 2010 to 2017.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.0 |
| Overall | 4.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5
The response attempts to cover the main features of the graph, including the data for visitors staying on cruise ships, those staying on the island, and the total figures over the period from 2010 to 2017. However, there are significant inaccuracies in reporting the data. For instance, the student states that in 2013 'Total was 2 million', whereas the visual data shows it was 2 million, but then writes 'In 2013 to 2016; Total was 2.7 million' instead of treating 2016 separately. Additionally, the overview is extremely weak, consisting of a single flawed sentence ('The illustrate graph shows the number of tourists visiting of island increased'). Because the key trends and comparisons are muddled by incorrect data reporting and a lack of a clear, coherent summary, the score reflects a limited ability to fully satisfy the task requirements.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5
The text is structured into short paragraphs that attempt to break down the timeline, starting with 2010 and moving through various block years. However, the logical progression is hindered by poor paragraphing and repetitive sentence structures, such as beginning multiple sentences with 'In [year] to [year]; Total was...'. Cohesive devices are minimal and mechanical, relying heavily on commas and semi-colons rather than natural connectors. Furthermore, referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the flow of information smoothly. There is no overarching logical organization that effectively guides the reader through the data comparisons.
Lexical Resource: Band 4.0
The vocabulary used is very basic and repetitive, frequently reusing terms such as 'tourists', 'visiting', 'staying', 'island', and 'increase/increased'. There are noticeable word-choice errors, such as 'The illustrate graph' instead of 'The illustrated graph' or 'The graph illustrates', and 'visiting of island' instead of 'visiting the island'. The range of vocabulary is limited to simple descriptions of numbers going up or down. Because the lexical items are basic and there are frequent word formation and collocation errors, the response struggles to reach a higher band for this criterion.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.0
The response exhibits a very limited range of grammatical structures. Most sentences are simple or poorly constructed compound attempts. There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including tense and word form issues such as 'increase' instead of 'increased' ('visitors staying on cruise ships increase'), missing articles ('visiting of island'), and awkward punctuation. Complex structures are rare and when attempted, they tend to be faulty or run-on. These persistent errors occasionally cause difficulty for the reader and demonstrate weak control over basic grammatical rules.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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