Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-19

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 tourists visiting a particular Caribben island between 210 and 2017.

Overall, total number of visitor increased throughout a period. There was steady increase in visitors staying on cruise ships.

To begin with, in 2010, around 0.25 million visitors staying on cruise ships but then in 2011, it increase slightly and then again decrease in 2012. By 2013, it had reached 0.5 million then it increased steadily by 2017, it had reached 2 million.

In 2010, around 0.75 million visitors were staying on island it remain same untill 2011, but then it increased. By 2013, it had reached 1.5 million then it remain same untill 2015 but in 2016, it decreased gradually reached at 1.25 milion by 2017 it again came to the 1.5 million.

The total number of visitor increased sharply througout the period in 2010, around 1 million visitor came to the Caribbean island by 2017, it had increased and reached to 3.5 million.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main components of the graph and identify the broad upward trend in total visitors, as well as the contrasting growth in cruise-ship visitors and relative stability of those staying on the island. Most figures are accurately selected, including the cruise-ship total of 2 million in 2017 and the overall total of 3.5 million. However, the overview is brief and does not highlight the key comparison that cruise-ship visitors overtook island-based visitors by 2017. Some details are unclear or inaccurate: the cruise figure in 2011 is described as increasing, although it rises from 0.25 to 0.5 million, and the island figure falls in 2016 before recovering in 2017. A clearer overview and more precise reporting would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a coherent overall arrangement: it begins with an introduction and overview, then discusses cruise-ship visitors, island visitors, and totals in separate paragraphs. This makes the main categories easy to locate. However, progression within some paragraphs is weakened by repetitive sequencing phrases such as “then” and “By 2013,” and the final paragraph repeats information already covered rather than adding a clear comparison. Some links between events are also unclear, particularly in the island paragraph, where the 2016 decline and 2017 recovery run together. Use a wider range of accurate linking expressions and make the relationship between the series explicit—for example, compare their levels at the beginning and end of the period.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “line chart,” “visitors,” “increased,” “decreased,” and “reached,” so the reader can generally understand the trends being described. However, the range is limited and several choices or forms are inaccurate or repetitive. “Number of visitor” is repeated instead of using the plural “visitors,” while “came to the Caribbean island” is less precise than a phrase such as “visited the island.” There are also spelling errors, including “Caribben,” “througout,” and “milion.” These do not prevent understanding, but they reduce precision and control. Build a broader set of trend verbs and practise spelling key terms, while choosing expressions that describe visitor totals and changes naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. However, errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction occur across the response. For example, “total number of visitor increased” needs an article and plural agreement, while “it increase slightly” should use a past-tense verb. The sentence beginning “In 2010, around 0.25 million visitors staying…” is incomplete because it lacks a main verb. In the island paragraph, “it remain same” and “it decreased gradually reached” show problems with verb forms and clause structure. Practise writing complete past-tense sentences and checking subject–verb agreement; clearer punctuation would also help separate the sequence of changes.

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