Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-13

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 exploring a specific Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017.

Overall, the vistors staying on island are more than visitors staying on cruise ships by intial year, however the vistors on staying on ships lead in the last year. The total number of visitors are increasing every year.

In year 2010, the visitors staying on island are 0.8 million while, the visitors staying on cruise ships are only 0.2 million which makes the total 1 million vistors. In 2011 there is a rapid increase in the visitors staying on cruise ships to 0.5 million, while the visitors staying on island remains the same. In 2012 there is a sudden drops in number of the visitors staying on cruise ships to 0.2 million while, the visitors staying on island climbs to 1.3 million.

From 2013 to 2015 there are a constant number of vistors staying on island while, the number of visitors staying on cruise ship are increasing.From 2015, there is a sudden drop of the visitors staying on island to 1.3 million while, the number of visitors staying on cruise ships jumps to 1.5 million making the total visitors of 2.7 million. From year 2016 till 2017 both visitors experience a rise in number of visitors and visitors staying on cruise ships reach to all time high number of 2 million, while visitors staying on island makes 1.5 million making a total of 3.5 millions of visitors.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main overall rise in total visitors and describe the changing balance between island and cruise-ship visitors, which addresses the key features of the graph. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: for example, the island figure in 2015 is still about 1.5 million, not 1.3 million; the fall to about 1.25 million occurs in 2016. The overview also says cruise-ship visitors lead “in the last year,” but does not clearly explain that this crossover happens only in 2017. Several figures are reported approximately accurately, but the account would be stronger with more precise comparisons and a clearer summary of the main stages, including the total’s rise to 3.5 million.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the figures chronologically. This makes the information generally easy to follow. Time markers such as “In 2011,” “In 2012,” and “From 2013 to 2015” help guide the reader, and the final sentence reports the endpoint. However, some linking is mechanical, particularly the repeated use of “while,” and several sentences are overloaded with multiple figures and comparisons. The transition “From 2015” is also unclear because the island visitors do not fall until 2016. Grouping the data into clearer phases and using more varied, precise links would improve progression and cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing a line graph, including “increase,” “drop,” “remains the same,” and “all time high,” so the main trends are usually understandable. However, the range is limited and some word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “visitors exploring” for people staying in a place and “visitors staying on cruise ship.” Spelling errors, including “vistors” and “intial,” are noticeable, while repeated use of “visitors” and “number” makes the description less precise. Aim to use a wider set of accurate trend expressions and check spelling carefully. For example, “rose steadily” and “reached a peak” would describe changes more naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including comparisons joined with “while,” and the reader can generally understand the trends. However, errors in agreement, articles, plurals, and sentence construction recur. For example, “The total number of visitors are increasing” should use a singular verb, and “the visitors staying on island are 0.8 million” needs a more accurate grammatical structure. The sentence beginning “From 2015” also joins several clauses without clear punctuation, making the timeline harder to follow. Use a mix of shorter, controlled sentences and complex comparisons, and check subject–verb agreement and clause boundaries before finishing.

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