Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The line graph illustrates the number of tourists who visiting Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017.

Overall, the total number of tourists visiting a Caribbean island recoded the higest numbers and surged throughout the years. While visitors who staying on cruise started with the lowest number of tourists, but steadily increased, and visitors who staying on island started with the higher number but declined over time.

To begin with, the total number of visitors who visiting Caribbean island started with 1 million and surged over time, and recorded the largest number 3.5 millions of visitors between 2010 and 2017.

Visitors who staying on island are started with around 0.7 millon of visitors in 2010, and steadily increased over time from 0.7 to around 1.5 millions of visitors in 2013 and fluctuated over the years. In contrast, visitors who staying on cruise ship started with the least amount of visitors

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the chart’s subject and include some relevant figures, such as the total rising from 1 million to 3.5 million and island-based visitors reaching about 1.5 million. However, the overview misrepresents the island-stay trend: it generally rose from about 0.75 million, then fluctuated, rather than declining over time. The account of cruise-ship visitors is left unfinished, and important comparisons—especially their strong rise to 2 million and overtaking island visitors in 2017—are missing. The response therefore covers the task only partially, with limited development of the main features. It is also one word below the required minimum. To improve, give a precise overview and report the key changes and comparisons for both visitor groups as well as the total.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs beginning “To begin with” and “In contrast.” These markers help signal the intended organisation. However, progression is limited because the final paragraph stops after introducing cruise-ship visitors, leaving the comparison incomplete. Some linking is also mechanical or confusing: “While … but” combines two contrasting structures, and “In contrast” is not followed by a complete contrasting point. Repeated references to “visitors” and “number” make the account feel repetitive. Organise the body into complete comparisons, and use linking phrases only where the relationship between the figures is clear.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “total number,” “visitors,” “increased,” “declined,” and “fluctuated,” and “surged” conveys a strong rise. However, the range is limited and some choices are inaccurate or awkward: “recorded the largest number” is less natural than “reached a peak,” while “started with the least amount of visitors” uses “amount” for countable people. Spelling errors such as “recoded,” “higest,” and “millon” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise, natural collocations and check spelling carefully. For example, describe the series as “visitor numbers” and use “the fewest visitors” when comparing counts.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrastive overview and clauses linked with “while.” However, errors are frequent and sometimes make the intended meaning less clear. Examples include “tourists who visiting,” “visitors who staying,” and “visitors who staying on island are started,” where verb forms and sentence construction are faulty. The sentence “While … but …” also combines incompatible linking patterns. There is some control in simpler statements such as “the total number … started with 1 million,” but the range is limited and accuracy is inconsistent. Practise complete clauses with correct verb forms—for example, “the number of tourists who visited” and “the number staying on the island increased.”

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