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 line graph illustrates the number of tourists vistied a caribbean island from 2010 to 2017 by categorising in three different categories.

Overall, the total amount of visitors demonstrated a considerable rose by the end of period. At initial, tourists who stayed on island were more than those on cruise ships; however, this trend changed by 2017.

In 2010, the total sum of tourists were 1 million which showed a rapid increase in figures till 2015, remained stable at about 2.6 million before reaching a peak of 3.5 million in 2017. Whereas, vacationers who stayed on cruise were nearly around 0.2 million in 2010.

This figure were reported to show fluctuation by 2012, before increasing rapidly and surpassing those who resided on island in 2015, after which it reached at 2 million by 2017. In contrast, sightseers who were on island recorded for just below 1 million in 2010 and constanly grow by 2013. Conversely, this trend presented a slight decline in 2016 at approximately 1.3 million before hitting 1.5 million in 2017.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall rise in total visitors and the changing relationship between the two visitor groups, which are central features of the graph. The overview that island-based visitors initially outnumbered cruise passengers but were overtaken by 2017 is relevant, and you include several supporting figures. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the total is described as stable at about 2.6 million from 2015, whereas it is about 2.75 million in both 2015 and 2016; cruise visitors overtook island visitors in 2016, not 2015. The island trend is also described as growing constantly to 2013, although it levels off after that. More precise reporting of these stages would make the summary more complete and reliable.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing the figures. This gives the reader a general route through the information, and contrasts such as “In contrast” help distinguish the visitor groups. However, progression within the detail paragraphs is sometimes difficult to follow because figures and trends are not consistently presented in chronological order or clearly linked. “Whereas” begins a fragment-like detail after the total trend, while “Conversely” is used for a change that is not really an opposing trend. Some references, such as “This figure,” are also unclear. Grouping the total trend separately and then comparing the two categories with accurate time markers would improve cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of topic vocabulary, including “surpassing,” “fluctuation,” “decline,” and “peak,” and the meaning is generally understandable. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “demonstrated a considerable rose,” “At initial,” “the total sum,” and “recorded for.” Some alternatives, including “vacationers” and “sightseers,” are less precise than the graph’s neutral term “visitors.” There are also spelling errors, notably “vistied” and “constanly.” Aim for accurate, natural combinations such as “rose considerably,” “at the beginning of the period,” and “the number of visitors,” and use consistent terminology for the two groups.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including clauses introduced by “before,” “whereas,” and “after which.” However, errors in verb forms, agreement, and sentence construction are frequent enough to make some sentences awkward. For example, “the total amount of visitors demonstrated a considerable rose” has an incorrect verb pattern, and “the total sum of tourists were” has a subject–verb agreement problem. “This figure were reported to show fluctuation” also contains agreement and construction errors. In addition, “who stayed on cruise” and “reaching a peak” are not integrated smoothly into their sentences. Practise checking each sentence for a clear subject and correctly formed verb, while retaining the complex structures you are attempting.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.