Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.5 · 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 4.5)
The line chart illustrates the main features of the number of tourists who visited the Caribbean island particularly in 2010 and 2017.
Overall, the number of visitors who stayed on the island showed a noticeable increase in number from 2010 to 2017 as compared to those who stayed at the ships. In addition the total number of people who visited the Caribbean island showed a noticeable rise in proportion.
In 2010, the proportion of travellers who stayed on the island was round about 0.7 million while those who stayed on the ship stood at only 0.3 million. Furthermore, visitors who stayed on island showed noticeable drop in statistics in 2007 as compared to those staying on cruise ships. In addition the total number of people travelling to Caribbean island showed a sudden rise from one million to round about 3.5 million from 2010 to 2017 respectively.
In contrast the number of people staying on ships showed higher number of proportion as compared to the ones staying on island in the past couple years and the total number of individual increase in number who travel to Caribbean island from 2010 to 2007.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 4.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0
The response identifies the broad rise in total visitors and gives approximate figures for 2010 and 2017, so it does engage with the chart. However, the account is minimal and includes a major date error: the island-stay figure is said to drop in “2007,” which is outside the chart period. The overview also claims island visitors increased more noticeably than cruise-ship visitors, whereas cruise-ship numbers rose much more sharply, from about 0.25 million to 2 million. The statement that cruise passengers exceeded island visitors “in the past couple years” is relevant only to 2017, not both final years. Select the main trends accurately, compare the two categories across the period, and avoid unsupported or contradictory claims.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0
There is a basic paragraph structure, with an introduction, an overview and two detail paragraphs, and linking expressions such as “Overall,” “Furthermore” and “In contrast” show an attempt to connect ideas. However, the information does not progress clearly: the final paragraph repeats the overall rise in total visitors, while the earlier detail paragraph shifts between category figures and the total without a consistent comparison. Some links also introduce unclear or contradictory relationships, particularly “In contrast” before the claim about cruise-ship visitors. Organise the report around the total trend and then the two visitor categories, using each paragraph to add distinct information. Clearer references to years and categories would make the progression easier to follow.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The response uses some task-related vocabulary, including “proportion,” “noticeable rise,” “visitors” and “cruise ships,” and the reader can generally identify the subject being discussed. However, the range is limited and several expressions are repetitive or imprecise. “Showed a noticeable increase in number” and “showed a noticeable rise in proportion” repeat the same idea without accurately describing the data; “proportion” is not the best term for the number of visitors. Phrases such as “stayed at the ships” and “higher number of proportion” are awkward collocations. Use precise chart language such as “the number of visitors,” “rose steadily,” and “exceeded,” and vary verbs to describe changes rather than repeatedly using “showed.”
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response attempts both simple and more extended sentences, including clauses introduced by “while” and “as compared to,” and most of the intended meaning remains understandable. However, control is inconsistent, especially in longer sentences. For example, “the total number of individual increase in number who travel” lacks a clear grammatical structure, and “the total number of people travelling … showed a sudden rise … respectively” combines constructions awkwardly. Tense and agreement also need attention: the chart describes past years, but “who travel” is present tense, and “the total number … increase” lacks the required past-tense verb. Practise concise past-tense comparisons and check that each sentence has a clear subject and correctly formed verb.
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