Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · 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 4.5)

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

Overall, the total number of visitors from 1 millions to 3.5 millions has steady increased over the period from 2010 to 2017, however the visitors staying on island fluctuated decreases slightly.

Although, around 0.3 millions of visitors staying on cruise ships has slightly increased to 2millions of people from 2010 to 2017 whereas the visitors staying on island has fluctuated decreased approxiamately 1.5 million in 2017.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify the chart’s subject and include a broad overview that the total rose and cruise-ship visitors increased. However, the response reports very few key features and does not clearly compare the two accommodation groups. The statement that island visitors “fluctuated decreases slightly” is unclear and does not accurately summarise the pattern: this figure generally rose from about 0.75 million to 1.5 million, with a small dip near the end. The total increased from 1 million to 3.5 million, while cruise-ship visitors rose from about 0.25 million to 2 million. The response is also 81 words below the required minimum; 13 words copied from the prompt were excluded from the count. Develop the overview and support it with several accurate comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a basic structure: an opening sentence, an overview, and a further comparison. This gives the reader some sense of the topic and the main direction of change. However, the response is too brief to establish a clear progression through the data, and the final paragraph repeats the same broad trends rather than adding organised detail. Linking words are attempted, but “Although” begins a sentence without a contrasting main clause, while “however” is awkwardly placed in the overview. Use separate paragraphs for the overview and the main details, then sequence comparisons by series or by period. Clearer links such as “By contrast” or “Meanwhile” would help show how the figures relate.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic but relevant to the chart: “total number of visitors,” “staying on cruise ships,” and “fluctuated” show an attempt to describe data rather than simply repeat the prompt. However, the range is limited, and several word choices or forms make the meaning less clear. “Steady increased” is not a natural description, and “fluctuated decreases” combines incompatible forms. There are also spelling and spacing issues, including “approxiamately” and “2millions.” Use precise trend language and accurate units, for example, “rose steadily,” “remained stable,” and “approximately 1.5 million visitors.” This would make the comparisons clearer and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt more than simple statements, including a sentence with “however” and another beginning with “Although.” These attempts show some willingness to connect ideas, but the structures are often faulty and the range remains limited. In “has steady increased,” the adverb and verb form are incorrect; “has steadily increased” would be grammatical. “Although” introduces a dependent clause without a complete contrasting clause, and “visitors staying on island” needs an article. The overview also contains a confusing shift in structure around “however.” Focus first on accurate simple sentences, then practise joining them with correctly formed contrast clauses. Check articles, verb forms, and punctuation before finishing.

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