Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-12

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 had visited a particular Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017.

Overall, the proportion of visitors stayed on island was significantly increased over the period, while visitors stayed on cruise ships was increased by 2017, however, it was lower than visitors stayed on island. In contrast, the total proportion of tourists was highest than visitors stayed on cruise ships and island.

In 2010, tourists stayed on cruise ships was lowest at 0.3 million of visitors, it kept fluctuated between 0.3 and 0.5 million visitors by 2013. By 2017, the proportion of visitors stayed on cruise ships was significantly increased to 2 million visitors.

In addition, visitors stayed on island was higher (0.5 million visitors) than stayed on cruise ships in 2010 and it remained stable in following year. Furthermore, it slowly raised to 1.5 million of visitors and remained stable by 2015. Despite some fluctuations it reached to 1.5 million visitors by 2017, still it was lower than visitors stayed on cruise ships.

The proportion of total tourists people was 1 million in 2010, whereas it surged to roughly 2.7 million visitors by 2016. It rose steadily at 3.5 million visitors by the period, it was highest as compared with people stayed on cruise ships and island.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the overall rise in total visitors and describe both accommodation groups, with relevant figures such as cruise-ship visitors reaching 2 million in 2017 and the total reaching 3.5 million. However, the overview contains a key contradiction: it says cruise-ship visitors remained lower than island visitors, although they overtook them in 2017. The island figure is also misreported as 0.5 million in 2010; it was about 0.75 million. Some trends are described imprecisely: island visitors rose to around 1.5 million by 2013, then fluctuated slightly, rather than rising steadily. Select the main comparisons accurately and make the overview consistent with the data to develop the response more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an overview followed by paragraphs on the visitor categories, and time markers such as “In 2010” and “By 2017” help orient the reader. However, progression is weakened by repeated statements that figures increased or were highest, and the final paragraph repeats the overview rather than adding a clear comparison. Some linking is mechanical or awkward: “In addition” and “Furthermore” introduce points that could be connected more directly, while “Despite some fluctuations” does not clearly specify the change being contrasted. The overview also gives conflicting comparisons, which disrupts the flow of information. Grouping the main trends more clearly and using precise references between sentences would make the organisation easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “fluctuated,” “remained stable,” “surged,” and “steadily,” and the reader can generally understand the trends you intend to describe. However, the range is limited by repeated use of “proportion” for visitor numbers and repeated forms of “increased” and “visitors.” Several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “the proportion of total tourists people” and “it was highest as compared with.” These expressions make some comparisons less clear. Use precise terms for quantities and categories, and vary trend language only when it accurately reflects the data. For example, “the number of cruise-ship visitors” is more suitable than “the proportion of visitors” when reporting figures in millions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a range of sentence forms, including clauses with “while,” “whereas,” and “despite,” but errors are frequent and sometimes make relationships between ideas difficult to follow. For example, “the number of tourists had visited” uses an unsuitable verb construction, and “visitors stayed on island was significantly increased” has problems with articles, agreement, and verb form. In “it slowly raised,” the verb form is incorrect, while “it reached to 1.5 million” uses an unnecessary preposition. Some sentences also join complete ideas with commas, as in “In 2010, tourists stayed on cruise ships was lowest …, it kept fluctuated.” Practise accurate past-tense reporting and build shorter, well-punctuated sentences before adding complex clauses.

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