Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-09
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 graph illustrates the figure of tourists visiting a Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017.
Overall, total visitors were highest in all formet, while visitors stsying on cruise ships were lowest than total visitors. Visitors staying on island were highest than visitors staying on cruise ships after that they decreased over the period.
In 2010, total visitors were around 1 million. Then they increased sharply and reached 2.5 millions in 2014,after the period they increased steadly and stood 3.5 millions in 2017, which was highest in all Caribbean island.
In 2010, visitors staying on cruise ships were only 0.2 million. Over the period visitors increased and reached 0.5 millions then they decreased in 2012, after that once again visitors grow and reached 1.5 millions in 2017. Visitors staying on island 0.7 millions in 2010. After that visitors increased 1.5 millions in 2013, then they decreased in 2016 and then increased in 2017.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
You identify the overall rise in total visitors and describe changes in both visitor categories, so the response is relevant to the graph. However, the overview is unclear and includes inaccurate comparisons: “total visitors were highest in all formet” is not a meaningful summary, and cruise-ship visitors were not “lowest than total visitors” as a useful comparison because the total necessarily includes both groups. The claim that island visitors “decreased over the period” is also misleading: they rose from about 0.75 million to 1.5 million overall, despite a dip in 2016. Some figures and trends are reported, but the account omits the total’s plateau in 2015–16 and misstates cruise visitors’ 2017 figure as 1.5 million rather than about 2 million. Make the overview precise and check key endpoints.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a basic paragraph structure: an introduction and overview are followed by paragraphs describing totals and the two visitor groups. This gives the reader a general route through the information. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes difficult to follow because several events are joined with repeated “then” and “after that,” and the overview’s comparisons are unclear. For example, “Visitors staying on island were highest than visitors staying on cruise ships after that they decreased” combines a comparison with a trend without showing clearly when the decrease occurred. Use clearer sequencing and contrast, such as grouping the two categories together by period, and use references like “the figure” or “this total” consistently. More deliberate links would make the account easier to follow.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use relevant task vocabulary, including “total visitors,” “increased,” “reached,” and “decreased,” and the reader can generally identify the trends you intend to describe. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or awkward, sometimes obscuring meaning. “The figure of tourists” is less natural than “the number of tourists,” while “highest in all formet” and “highest than” do not express the intended comparisons clearly. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “formet,” “stsying,” and “steadly.” Aim for accurate trend language and comparison phrases, and proofread spelling. More precise choices such as “rose steadily,” “remained stable,” and “was higher than” would help you describe the data more effectively.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences, including clauses linked with “which” and “after that.” However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences difficult to interpret. For example, “Visitors staying on island 0.7 millions in 2010” lacks a main verb, while “Visitors staying on island were highest than visitors staying on cruise ships after that they decreased” has faulty comparison and clause structure. There are also problems with articles, plurals, and punctuation, as in “1.5 millions” and the missing space after “2014,”. Practise complete subject–verb sentences and use accurate past-tense forms. Separating longer sequences into shorter sentences will also help you control punctuation and grammar.
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