Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-17

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 demonstrates how many number of tourists visited a caribbean island during the year 2010 to 2017.

Overall, it s clear that the total number of visitors to the island increased over a period of 8 years. While the visitors staying in island have slightly increased, there was relatively large surge in those staying on the cruise.

The total number of travellers to the island was 2.5 times higher in 2017 than in 2010. The figure relatively increased from 1 millions to 1.5 millions in 2012. However, then the rise in visitors numbers in the following two years within the data relatively remain unchanged 2015 and 2016. Additionally, it was observed to tourist population experience a sharp increase rising to 3.5 million from around 2.5 million.

The number of individual staying on the cruise ship was relatively was low when compared people staying in island. Whereas it was experience higher rate of growth and eventually surpass the number of people staying in the ship by the year 2016. the number of visitors staying in island have increased by 1.7 million In contrast the number of tourist staying in boats was 0.75millions

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main overall pattern: total visitor numbers rose, with cruise-ship visitors growing more sharply than those staying on the island. You also include some relevant figures, such as the total increasing from 1 million to 3.5 million. However, several details are inaccurate or unclear. The total was 1.5 million in 2012, but it did not remain unchanged in 2015 and 2016: it was about 2.75 million in both years. The comparison at the end is also confused: cruise visitors overtook island-staying visitors in 2016, not visitors staying “in the ship,” and the final figures of 1.7 million and 0.75 million do not match the chart. Report the two categories more precisely and organise the key stages of change clearly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and paragraphs containing details. The overview usefully contrasts the modest rise in island stays with the stronger growth in cruise visitors. However, progression becomes difficult to follow in the detail paragraphs. For example, “the rise in visitors numbers in the following two years within the data relatively remain unchanged 2015 and 2016” is hard to interpret, and the final comparison shifts between categories without a clear sequence. Linking words such as “However,” “Additionally,” and “Whereas” are attempted, but some do not accurately express the relationship between the information. Group the total trend first, then compare the two visitor types, using clear year-to-year references and pronouns with unambiguous referents.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “surge,” “increased,” “sharp increase,” and “visitors staying on the cruise,” which helps convey trends and categories. There is also some variation in referring to tourists, such as “travellers” and “tourist population.” However, word choice and collocation are often inaccurate or repetitive: “how many number,” “relatively remain unchanged,” and “individual staying on the cruise ship” are not natural expressions. “People staying in the ship” also confuses the category and location. Use precise, consistent labels such as “cruise-ship visitors” and “visitors staying on the island,” and choose trend language that matches the data. Check spelling and capitalisation, including “Caribbean.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast with “While” and a clause beginning “Whereas.” However, errors are frequent, and some sentences are difficult to understand. Examples include “it s clear” (missing apostrophe), “the visitors staying in island have slightly increased” (article and tense problems), and “the number … was relatively was low” (repeated verb). Subject–verb agreement and verb forms are also inconsistent, as in “it was experience” and “the number … have increased.” Sentence boundaries and capitalisation need attention, particularly the lowercase “the” after a full stop. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and build shorter, complete sentences before adding subordinate clauses.

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