Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 shows the number of visitors who visited a caribbean island from 2010 to 2017. The figure was in millions.

Overall, in the seven years of period total number of tourists increased, while other vistors staying on cruise ships was goes dip then it was reached high over the years. On the one hand visitors staying on island was stable for one year than it flactuated.

The total number of tourists increased rapidly through out the years, in the starting three years from 2010 to 2013 it reached to 1.5 million than it rose up by 2016 around 2.7 million than it shows dramatic rise and in 2017 it was at 3.5 million. However vistors staying on the cruise ships was dropped consistently by 2012 it was around 0.2 million than it rose dramatically and reached approximately at 2 million.

Whereas, visitors who was stayed on island soar gradually and in 2013 it was at 1.5 million than it flactuated and fall back to 1.3 million than rose suddenly at 1.5 million

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main components of the graph and provide an overview that identifies the overall rise in total visitors, the growth in cruise-ship visitors, and fluctuation among those staying on the island. Several figures are also reported accurately, including the 2017 total of 3.5 million and the cruise-ship figure of about 2 million. However, the account of the total is unclear: it says the figure reached 1.5 million by 2013, whereas the graph shows 2 million, and describes growth to around 2.7 million by 2016 without noting that the total was level from 2015 to 2016. The island-stayer trend is broadly captured but could be more precisely compared across years. Clearer, more accurate reporting of these stages would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs describing the total and the two visitor groups. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression within the body is sometimes difficult to follow, particularly in the total-visitors paragraph, where the 2010–2013 period is compressed and the figures do not align clearly with the sequence of years. Linking phrases such as “On the one hand” and “Whereas” are used, but the relationships they signal are not always clear or natural. Try grouping related trends consistently and using straightforward links such as “Meanwhile” or “By contrast”; also make each sentence’s time period explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “increased,” “fluctuated,” “dramatic rise,” and “approximately,” so the main trends are generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “was goes dip,” “reached high,” and “visitors who was stayed.” Spelling errors, including “vistors,” “flactuated,” and “through out,” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise, reusable trend language and check spelling carefully. For example, describe a series as “fell before rising” or “remained stable,” rather than combining several verbs in an unclear phrase. More accurate collocations would make the comparisons easier to understand.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including clauses linked with “while,” “than,” and “whereas.” This shows some range, and the reader can usually identify the intended trends. However, errors in verb forms and sentence construction are evident in examples such as “other visitors staying on cruise ships was goes dip,” “it reached to 1.5 million,” and “visitors who was stayed on island.” Tense and agreement also need attention, as in “it was dropped” and “visitors … was.” Use the past simple consistently for the historical data, and check that each clause has a correctly formed subject and verb. Shorter, well-controlled sentences would help you express the figures more accurately.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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