Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-07

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 chart illustrates the number of tourists visiting a particular Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017.

Overall, visitors staying on cruise ships was significantly increased over the period, while visitors staying on island was gradually risen, despite some stability between 2013 and 2015. Futhermore, the total number of tourists visiting Caribbean island was surged during the years.

In 2010, people stayed on cruise ships had been 0.3 millions which went up to 0.5 million of visitors. In 2012, it declined with similar to year 2010. In addition,during the year 2013 to 2017 it surged 0.5 to 2 million visitor stayed on cruise ships.

In contrast, visitors like to stayed on island was around 0.8 million, in 2010, whereas it remained similar in following year. In 2013, it reached to 1.5 million visitors, however it been stabled over the year 2015. Despite some fluctuation in year 2016, it reached with 1.5 million visitor but it has been still lower then people like to stayed on cruise ships. Moreover, the total number of visitors was at 1 millions in year 2010 and it significantly rose up 3.5 million visitors over the period, it also

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the chart’s subject and give a relevant overview: cruise-ship numbers rose substantially, island-staying figures were comparatively stable, and the total increased. Most reported values and trends match the graph, including the cruise figure reaching about 2 million in 2017 and the total reaching 3.5 million. However, the overview is not fully precise: island visitors rose overall rather than simply “gradually,” and the key comparison that cruise visitors overtook island visitors in 2017 is not clearly stated. The final sentence is also unfinished (“it also”), leaving the total trend’s description incomplete. To strengthen the response, complete this point and select the main turning points and comparisons more clearly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction and overview to details about cruise visitors, island visitors, and the total. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression becomes difficult near the end: the final sentence stops at “it also,” and the total is introduced only after the discussion of the two visitor groups. Some linking is mechanical or unclear, as in “In contrast” and “Despite some fluctuation,” where the relationship between the figures is not fully explained. Paragraphing and a clearer sequence—overview, then the two categories and total—would make the report easier to follow. Use linking phrases to show comparisons and changes, rather than adding them without a clear connection.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “declined,” “remained,” “fluctuation,” and “rose,” and the reader can generally understand the trends you intend to describe. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “was significantly increased,” “was surged,” “it been stabled,” and “reached with.” “Visitors like to stayed” also does not express the intended category naturally. There is a spelling error in “Futhermore,” and repeated use of “visitors” and “million” limits variety. Aim for precise reporting phrases such as “the figure for,” “stood at,” and “climbed to,” while checking spelling and using natural collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple statements and longer sentences, including clauses with “while,” “whereas,” and “however.” Some relationships remain understandable, but errors in verb forms and sentence construction are frequent enough to make parts of the report difficult to read. For example, “visitors staying on island was gradually risen” combines incorrect agreement and verb forms, while “In 2012, it declined with similar to year 2010” is not grammatically complete. The final sentence is also unfinished. Practise consistent past-tense reporting, subject–verb agreement, articles, and complete sentence boundaries. For instance, use a clear pattern such as “The number of cruise-ship visitors rose from about 0.5 million in 2013 to 2 million in 2017.”

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