Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-14

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 graph illustrates a comparisons of tourists visiting the Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017. Overall, the total number of visitors are counted in millions, distunguished between tourists staying on island and on cursie ships.

In 2010, the tourists stayed on the island were 0.6 million and on the ship were apporximately 0.3 million with a total of 1 million. By 2013, stay on island rose to 1.5 million, whereas on cruise-ships also increased with 0.5 million and the total was 2 million.

In 2016, visitors staying on ships had a fluctation rised form 1.5 million up to 2 million by the end of the time line, in 2017. In contrast, a dr

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response3.5
Coherence and Cohesion4.5
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall4.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

You identify the chart’s subject and give a basic overview of the two visitor groups, then report some figures for 2010 and 2013. However, the response addresses the task only partially: it ends mid-sentence (“In contrast, a dr”), so the later comparison and overall trends are not completed. The 2010 and 2013 figures are broadly close to the chart, but the account omits key features, including the steady rise in total visitors to 3.5 million in 2017 and the island-staying figure remaining relatively stable after 2013. The response is also 36 words below the required minimum. To develop the report, complete the final comparison and summarise the main changes across the full period.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a basic attempt to organise the report into an introduction, an overview and chronological details. The time markers “In 2010,” “By 2013” and “In 2016” help the reader follow the selected data, while “whereas” and “In contrast” signal comparison. However, progression is incomplete: the final paragraph breaks off at “a dr,” leaving the contrast unfinished, and the overview does not clearly summarise the main trends. The short paragraphs also provide too little development to connect the figures into a complete account. Use a clear overview followed by paragraphs that cover the early and later years, and ensure each comparison is completed.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses some relevant chart vocabulary, including “total number of visitors,” “million,” “rose” and “in contrast,” so the topic is generally recognisable. However, the range is limited and several noticeable spelling or word-choice errors reduce clarity: “distunguished,” “cursie,” “apporximately” and “fluctation.” Some phrasing is also unnatural, such as “had a fluctation rised” and “increased with 0.5 million.” Aim for accurate, conventional expressions such as “the number of cruise-ship visitors fluctuated” and “increased by 0.5 million.” More precise terms for trends and comparisons would help you describe the data without relying on a small set of basic words.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, for example, “By 2013, stay on island rose to 1.5 million, whereas…” This shows some ability to link comparisons, but grammatical control is uneven. Errors include subject–verb agreement in “the total number of visitors are counted,” an incorrect construction in “the tourists stayed on the island were,” and faulty verb forms in “had a fluctation rised.” The final sentence is incomplete, which also prevents the intended grammatical relationship from being understood. Use a consistent past tense for the historical data, check singular subjects such as “the total number,” and build complete clauses around each comparison. Greater accuracy in these patterns would make the report easier to follow.

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

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