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)
The line chart shows the number of tourists who have been visiting a particular Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017.
The chart consists of the data about the visitors staying on the cruise ships, or staying on the island and lastly the total sum of the visitors. As we discuss the data about the visitors who preferd to stay on the cruise ships has been fluctuating from the year 2010 to mid 2012. Eventually the number increased around the begining of 2013 which reached about to 2 million visitors at the year 2017. Comparing the data of the people residing at the island has remained almost the same from 2010 to 2011 which was slighly over half a million. There after it took a jump as the time progressed from md 2011 and the sum reached to about 1.5 million. In mid 2015 the numbers took a drop. Later in 2017 the numbers again reached to 1.5 million
Over all we can say that the total number of visitors at the Caribbean island have inreased over the years.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
You identify the chart’s three series and give a broad overview that total visitor numbers increased, which is relevant. However, the account of the cruise-ship figures is inaccurate: they fluctuate early on, then rise gradually, reaching about 2 million in 2017; they do not reach that level around 2013. The island-stayer figures are also misreported: they rise from about 0.75 million in 2011 to around 1.5 million by 2013, remain broadly stable, dip slightly in 2016, and recover in 2017. The overview is too general and omits the total’s rise from 1 million to 3.5 million and the fact that cruise-ship visitors eventually outnumber island stayers. Select and compare these key features more accurately and clearly.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a basic sequence: an introduction, discussion of the two visitor categories, and a concluding overview. This gives the reader some organisation, and phrases such as “There after” and “Later in 2017” signal time. However, the main body is largely one long paragraph, and the progression between series and time periods is not always clear. “As we discuss the data” does not establish a useful comparison, while “There after it took a jump” has an unclear reference. The total series is mentioned only in the final sentence, rather than being integrated into the account. Use separate paragraphs for the overview and key details, and group figures by trend with clear comparisons.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “fluctuating,” “increased,” “remained almost the same,” and “took a drop,” so the main trends can generally be understood. However, the range is limited and several choices are imprecise or unnatural for describing a graph. “People residing at the island” is an awkward way to refer to tourists staying there, and “the sum reached to about 1.5 million” is not a natural collocation. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “preferd,” “begining,” “slighly,” and “inreased.” Choose precise terms such as “visitors staying on the island” and “rose to,” and check spelling carefully.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response attempts some longer sentence forms, for example, “Comparing the data of the people residing at the island has remained almost the same,” but this construction is faulty and makes the relationship between the comparison and the subject unclear. Errors also occur in verb agreement and tense: “the total number … have increased” should use a singular verb, and the present perfect in the opening is less suitable than a past-tense description of the period. Other patterns, such as “reached to about” and “at the year 2017,” show problems with prepositions. Most sentences are understandable, but frequent errors and a narrow range of reliably controlled structures limit clarity. Practise accurate simple past sentences before adding complex comparisons.
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