Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-08

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 provided graph illustrates the number of tourists (measured in millions) visiting a particular Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017.

Overall, it can be seen that total tourists are visiting a island surged, whereas the number visitors staying on island were plumped.

Visitors staying on cruise ships were less popular in 2010, which only just 0.2 millions, followed by slight fluctuation and then increased in 2014 at around 1 millions. After that this figure rose considerably and reached accounted for 2 millions. The number of visitors staying on island in 2010 at 0.7 millions approximately and then remained stable in 2011. This figure increased in 2015 at around 1.5 millions, however, this figure fallen and the rose slightly in final year at 1.5 millions.

Total visitors on island were at 1 millions in the first year, and then steadily incresed at around 1.5 millions in 2012. This figure soured 2.5 millions in 2014, then slightly flactuation and then reached peake up at 3.5 millions in the final year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main categories and give an overview of the contrasting trends: total visitors rose, cruise-ship visitors increased substantially, and island-staying visitors changed less. Most figures are broadly consistent with the graph, including the cruise total reaching about 2 million and the overall total reaching 3.5 million in 2017. However, the overview is unclear when it says island visitors “were plumped,” and the account of the total misses the rise from 2.75 million in 2015 to 3.5 million in 2017. The island-staying series also peaks at about 1.5 million in 2013, remains there through 2015, dips in 2016, and recovers in 2017; this sequence is not reported accurately. Clearer selection and explanation of these key stages would strengthen the summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate descriptions of the two visitor types and the total. This gives the reader a generally coherent route through the information. Time markers such as “After that,” “in 2011,” and “in the final year” help establish sequence. However, some connections are mechanical or unclear, particularly “followed by slight fluctuation and then increased” and “then slightly flactuation and then reached.” Repeated use of “This figure” also makes references less precise, while the overview’s contrast is difficult to follow. Grouping the two visitor categories together before describing the total, and using clearer links to show rises, plateaus, and dips, would improve progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant vocabulary for describing a graph, including “remained stable,” “increased,” “rose considerably,” and “reached.” These choices show an attempt to vary language rather than repeat only basic verbs. However, several inaccurate word choices and collocations make parts of the report difficult to understand: “were plumped,” “reached accounted for,” and “peake up” do not express the intended trends naturally. There are also spelling errors such as “incresed” and “flactuation,” and “soured” appears to be an incorrect choice for “soared.” Aim for precise, conventional graph language and check spelling; accurate terms such as “fluctuated,” “peaked,” and “stood at” would make the descriptions clearer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including clauses linked with “whereas,” “which,” and “however,” and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. Some sentence patterns are nevertheless faulty. For example, “total tourists are visiting a island surged” combines incompatible verb forms, while “which only just 0.2 millions” lacks a complete verb construction. Articles and number forms also need attention in phrases such as “a island” and “1 millions.” In “this figure fallen and the rose slightly,” the verbs do not have the required tense or structure. Use past simple consistently for the historical data, and check that each clause has a clear subject and correctly formed verb.

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