Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 bar graph illustrates the number of commuters visiting a particular Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017.

From an overview perspective, there can be observed various differences in graph. Whereas, visitors staying on cruise ships saw a growth over the years. Meanwhile, visitors who staying on island seen a fluctuating figure by 2017. At last, Total commuters who visit Caribbean island shows a dramatic rise.

By analysing the details, Predominantly the visitors staying on cruise ships visitors were least in 2010. However, after year 2015 there can be reflect a surge in the figures of visitors and end at 2 million in 2017. Moreover, visitors who stay on island were 0.7 in year 2010 which was the second highest tourist place but in 2015 there can be seen a decline in figure and stay at least in 2017.

Finally, those commuters who travel the total Caribbean island have the highest number overall. In 2010, the state starts with 1 million and end with the surge at 3.5 million in 2017.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the overall rise in total visitors and the strong growth in cruise-ship visitors, and you include some relevant figures, such as the total increasing from 1 million to 3.5 million. However, the account only partially reports the main features, and several details are inaccurate or unclear. Island-staying visitors did not simply decline: they rose from about 0.75 million to 1.5 million, then dipped to 1.25 million in 2016 before returning to 1.5 million in 2017. The claim that they were “least in 2017” is therefore incorrect. The description of cruise visitors also omits their early fluctuations. Use an accurate overview and compare the series with selected figures to make the report more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and paragraphs describing details. Sequencing phrases such as “From an overview perspective,” “By analysing the details,” and “Finally” signal the intended stages. However, progression within the paragraphs is not always clear, and some linking is mechanical or confusing. For example, “Whereas” begins a sentence without a contrasting clause, while “At last” does not clearly connect the total trend to the preceding points. The detail paragraphs also move between series without consistently organising comparisons by year or trend. Grouping the figures into a clear overview followed by focused comparisons, and using more precise references such as “By contrast” or “Meanwhile,” would improve cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-related vocabulary, including “growth,” “fluctuating,” “surge,” and “dramatic rise,” showing an attempt to describe trends rather than merely list figures. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, which sometimes makes the meaning difficult to follow. Calling tourists “commuters” is a significant word-choice error, and “second highest tourist place” does not describe the island-staying category clearly. Phrases such as “the state starts” and “stay at least” are also unsuitable for reporting graph data. Aim for precise terms such as “visitors,” “category,” “figure,” and “reached,” and avoid repeating broad trend words when a specific movement can be named.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a contrast structure beginning “Whereas” and a time clause with “after year 2015.” However, complex constructions are often faulty, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences hard to interpret. Examples include “visitors who staying on island seen,” which lacks correct verb forms and an auxiliary, and “there can be reflect a surge,” which has an incorrect verb pattern. Articles and sentence construction are also inconsistent, as in “the total Caribbean island.” Practise forming complete clauses with a clear subject and verb, and use past-tense reporting consistently: for example, “The number of cruise-ship visitors rose and reached 2 million in 2017.”

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