Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-16

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)

This line graph illustrates the number of tourists visiting a particular caribbean island between 2010 and 2017.

Overall, it is very clear that total number of tourists are increased significantly throughout years .While, total number of visitors staying on cruise ships also increased.Whereas, the total number of visitors staying on island remains almost stable.

In 2010, The total number of visitors are 1 million where the number of visitors staying on island are around 0.8 million and number of visitors staying on cruise ships are around 0.3 million.

In 2016 , the total number of tourists are around 2.8 million where visitors staying on island and visitors and staying on cruise ships are around 1.4 and 1.5 million respectively.

In 2017, the total number of visitors are moved to 3.5 million. In which total number of visitors staying on cruise ships are 2 million and the number of visitors staying on island is 1.5 million .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the overall rise in total visitors and the contrasting patterns: cruise-ship numbers increase, while island-stay figures are broadly stable. The selected figures for 2010 and 2017 are close to the chart, and the 2016 total is also reasonably reported. However, the account is limited and omits important stages, such as the steady rise in the total from 2011 to 2015 and the island-stay peak and slight decline. The 2016 breakdown is also inaccurate: island visitors were about 1.25 million and cruise visitors 1.5 million, not 1.4 and 1.5 respectively. The response is 143 words, below the 150-word minimum; the 13 words copied from the task prompt are excluded from that count. Develop the overview and comparisons with a few more key data points.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs reporting figures for selected years. This helps the reader identify the main subject and broad trends. However, progression is limited because the body jumps from 2010 to 2016 and then 2017, leaving the intervening changes unexplained. Linking words such as “where” and “whereas” are repeated and sometimes make the relationships between figures unclear; the phrase “visitors staying on island and visitors and staying on cruise ships” is especially difficult to follow. Organise the details in chronological order and compare the two visitor categories within each period. Use a wider range of accurate links, and make each sentence’s comparison explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “tourists,” “visitors,” “cruise ships,” and “million,” so the subject is generally clear. However, the range is limited and several phrases are repetitive, particularly “total number of visitors” and “number of tourists.” Some word combinations are unnatural, such as “the total number of tourists are increased” and “the total number of visitors are moved to 3.5 million.” Capitalisation and spelling also need attention: “caribbean” should be “Caribbean,” and “The” should not be capitalised mid-sentence. Aim for precise trend language and vary your reporting verbs, while keeping the wording natural and accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences using connectors such as “where” and “whereas,” but control is inconsistent. Subject–verb agreement is a recurring issue: “the total number … are increased” and “the total number … are 1 million” should use singular agreement, while “increased” needs a suitable verb construction. Articles and sentence boundaries also need attention, as in “total number of tourists” and the run-on transition “throughout years .While”. The sentence beginning “In which” is a fragment rather than a complete sentence. These errors sometimes make the comparisons harder to understand. Practise accurate present/past reporting forms, singular agreement with “number,” and complete sentences before adding more complex structures.

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