Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-11

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 number of tourists who visited a particular caribbean island in 2010 and 2017,measured by millions.It distinguises between visitprs staying on cruise ships, visitors staying on island ,total number of tourists.

Overall, total number of tourists increased significantly throughout the years,while visitors who were staying on ships fluctuated throughly, followed by the visitors staying on island showed a noticaple changed through couple of years,then became a steady growth over the rest of the years.

In 2010, total number of visitors were 1 million,which was consequently increased throughout 2015,(around 2.6 millions),then showed a stable value till 2016,then jumped a massive growth in 2017,which reached 3.5 millions.

In contrast, visitors who staying on cruise gave a fluctuating value ,with 50lacs in 2011 and 25 lacs in 2012.The growth rate was increased rapidly between 2013 to 2017.However, the initial tourists number was around 1.5 millions for the visitors staying on island ,which was been stable till 2011.After that, the graph rose slightly,at 1.5millions in 2013,then next couple of years it became steady and slope down a bit ,at approximately 1.2millions in 2018,whilst the value started to higher in 2017 and reached 1.5millions.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the overall rise in total visitors and distinguish between cruise-ship and island visitors, which addresses the main subject of the graph. However, some key details are inaccurate or unclear: the island-staying figure starts at about 0.75 million, not 1.5 million, and the reference to 2018 is outside the period shown. The cruise-ship series does not simply fluctuate throughout; after early variation, it rises steadily to 2 million in 2017. Your overview also describes island visitors as showing “steady growth,” although the figure levels off and dips slightly before ending at 1.5 million. Select the main trends accurately and support them with a few reliable comparisons to make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs reporting figures. The contrast signalled by “In contrast” also helps distinguish the visitor categories. However, progression within the final paragraph is difficult to follow because cruise-ship and island figures are discussed in the same long sequence, and the island trend is reported out of chronological order. Some linking is mechanical or unclear, particularly “However” and “whilst” in the final sentence. Organise the body by series or by clear time periods, and use shorter sentences with explicit references to each category. This would make the relationships between the figures easier to follow while preserving the overall coherent arrangement.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “fluctuating,” “stable,” “increased,” and “reached,” and the reader can generally identify the trends you intend to describe. However, the range and control are limited by repeated general terms such as “growth” and “value,” as well as inaccurate or unnatural combinations such as “gave a fluctuating value” and “showed a stable value.” There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “distinguises,” “visitprs,” and “noticaple,” which reduce clarity. Use precise chart language such as “rose,” “remained unchanged,” and “fell slightly,” and check spelling and collocations carefully. More accurate vocabulary would help you describe changes without relying on vague wording.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including clauses linked with “while,” “which,” and “after that.” However, errors occur frequently and sometimes make relationships between ideas difficult to interpret. Examples include “total number of visitors were,” “visitors who staying,” and “which was been stable”; these show problems with agreement, verb forms, and clause construction. Several sentences also run together, as in the opening and the final paragraph, with missing spaces after punctuation and unclear comma use. Practise building accurate sentences around a subject and verb, for example, “The total rose to 2.75 million in 2015 and remained unchanged in 2016.” Then add complex clauses only when you can control their grammar and punctuation.

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