Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The line graph compares the amount of travellers visiting a particular island located in the Caribbean between 2010 and 2017.

Overall according to the information provided, number of tourists visiting the island has plummeted over the years. Although the amount of visitors staying on the island has declined a bit. But the number of travellors staying on cruise ships has increased significantly.

In the year 2010 less than half a million tourists visited that were staying on the island and more than half a million cruise ships. In 2011, both visitors increased to more than 1 million and half a million for visitors on cruise ships and staying on the island respectively. The graph kept increasing for the cruise ships whereas a decline was seen for the visitors staying on the island in 2012.

But for the years 2013, 2014, 2015, the number of visitors kept increasing and reached 1.5 million and more than 2.5 million for vistors staying on cruise ships and staying on island respectively. the rates fluctuated in 2016 but

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

The response identifies the chart’s subject and attempts an overview, but the central trend is misreported: total visitors rose from about 1 million to 3.5 million, rather than “plummeted.” Several figures and series are also confused. In 2010, island visitors were about 0.75 million and cruise-ship visitors about 0.25 million, not the reverse; by 2017, cruise visitors reached about 2 million while island visitors were around 1.5 million. The account ends mid-sentence after “but,” so the final year and overall comparison are not reported. These inaccuracies and omissions mean the main features are only minimally covered. Focus first on an accurate overview, then select a few reliable comparisons to support it.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is an attempt to organise the response into an introduction, overview and chronological detail, and time markers such as “In 2011” and “in 2012” help signal sequence. However, progression is difficult to follow because the overview contradicts the chart and the body repeatedly mixes the two visitor categories. The final paragraph stops at “but,” leaving the discussion unfinished, while “Although … But” creates an awkward connection between ideas. Use one paragraph for the overview and separate paragraphs for the main trends, grouping figures by category rather than moving through years without a clear comparison. Complete each sentence and use linking words only where they clarify the relationship.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses a reasonable range of topic vocabulary, including “visitors,” “declined,” “increased significantly” and “fluctuated,” and the general subject remains understandable. However, some choices are imprecise or repetitive: “amount of travellers” is less suitable for people than “number of tourists,” and “the graph kept increasing for the cruise ships” does not clearly describe visitor numbers. “Plummeted” is also an especially strong word and is inaccurate for the overall upward trend. There are spelling errors in “travellors” and “vistors.” Choose precise terms for the data series, vary repeated wording, and check spelling before finishing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts some complex structures, for example “Although the amount of visitors staying on the island has declined a bit,” but this is left as a dependent clause and is followed by the fragment “But the number…”. Sentence boundaries and punctuation are also unreliable: “the rates fluctuated in 2016 but” is incomplete, and the next sentence begins with a lowercase “the.” There are errors in articles and number agreement, as in “Overall according to the information provided, number of tourists…,” where “the number” is needed. Use complete sentences, check that subordinate clauses have a main clause, and maintain consistent past-tense reporting.

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