Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-18
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 illustrates the number of visitors visiting a Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017.
Overall, the total number of travellers visiting a Caribbean island accounted for the largest proportion, while tourists staying on island fluctuated over the period.In addition, passengers staying on cruise ships increased significantly.
In 2010, the figure of visitors was considerably higher than the staying on cruise ships, at roughly 1 and 0.3 millions of visitors respectively. Total number of visitors experienced a steady and significant increase, reaching nearly 1.3 millions of visitors in 2011. Similarly, travellors staying on ships figures rose steadily to around 0.5 millions in 2011.
In contrast, visitors staying on island began at approximately 0.8 millions in 2010 and remained stable in 2011, but witnessed a significant increase to 1.5 million and remained stable in 2013,2014 and 2015 respectively. The figure then decreased to around 1.5 million in 2012 and 2016, before peaked at 1.5 million in 2017.
Similarly, the total visitors accounted for the 1.5 million in 2012 and increased significantly to around 3.5 millions in 2017. Meanwhile, the figure for staying on island fluctuated 0.5 million of visitors in 2013 to 2 million of visitors in 2017.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
You identify the overall rise in total visitors and the strong growth in cruise-ship visitors, and you include several relevant figures. However, the report only partially captures the main trends because some descriptions are inaccurate or contradictory. For example, island-staying visitors rose to about 1.25 million in 2012, not 1.5 million, and then reached 1.5 million in 2013; the claim that they fell to 1.5 million in 2012 and 2016 is incorrect. The final sentence also wrongly says this series fluctuated from 0.5 million in 2013 to 2 million in 2017. The overview’s claim that the total accounted for the largest proportion is unclear, since total is the combined figure. Select the key trends and check each comparison against the chart.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response has an introduction, an overview and body paragraphs, and it uses basic signposts such as “Overall,” “In contrast” and “Similarly.” These give the reader some sense of structure. However, progression is not consistently clear: the island-staying figures are discussed across two paragraphs, and the final sentence introduces a comparison that conflicts with the earlier account. Some linking words do not express the relationship accurately, particularly “Similarly” before the total figures. There are also abrupt transitions between series and missing spaces after full stops, as in “period.In addition” and “2013,2014.” Group the information more consistently—for example, describe the total and cruise-ship trends together, then the island-staying trend—and use links only when the ideas genuinely correspond.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “fluctuated,” “remained stable,” “increased significantly” and “approximately,” which helps describe changes. However, some choices are repetitive or imprecise: “visitors visiting” repeats the same idea, and “accounted for the largest proportion” does not clearly describe the total series. There are also noticeable word-form and spelling slips, including “travellors” and “millions” after figures such as 1.3, where the unit should be expressed as million. Phrases such as “the figure of visitors” and “the total visitors accounted for the 1.5 million” are awkward. Aim for precise chart language and natural collocations, such as “the total number of visitors reached” or “visitors staying on the island.”
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentences, including clauses with “while,” “but” and “before,” and most of the intended meaning can be followed. However, errors recur in sentence construction and tense forms. For example, “before peaked” needs a past-tense verb form such as “before peaking” or “before it peaked,” while “the figure for staying on island fluctuated 0.5 million” is missing a grammatical link such as “between.” Articles and number agreement are also inconsistent in phrases such as “the total visitors” and “1.3 millions.” Punctuation and spacing need attention, especially the missing space after “period.” Practise accurate comparative and trend sentences, checking verb forms, articles and prepositions.
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