Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-20
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 given line graph provides information on a large number of visitors who visit in a one area Caribbean island over a seven-year period from 2010 to 2017.
Overall, the most striking aspect shown in this figure the total visiotrs accounted for the highest proportion whereas cruise ships and visitors on island remained gradually rose over the period.
The time period between 2010 and 2012 experienced an fluctuations in visitors staying on cruise ships, which was accounted for around 0.3 millions to almost 0.3 millions visitors. Staying on cruise ships increased significantly from 0.3 millions visitors in 2012 to 2 millions visitors in 2017.
Visitors staying on island remained stable from approximately 0.7 millions of tourist in 2010 to 0.7 millions in 2011. Staying on island witnessed a dramatic rise from 0.7 millions of tourists in 2011 to just over 1 millions of visitors in 2016. Visitors on island increased gradually in 2016 at over 1 millions to 1.5 millions in 2017.
The time period between 2010 and 2016 experienced a dramatic rise in total visitors, which went up from 1 million of tourists to aroun 2.7 millions visitors. Total visitors increased significantly from 2.7 millions in 2016 to peak at 3.5 millions tourists.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
You cover the three series and include a clear broad trend: total visitors rose overall, while cruise-ship numbers increased strongly and island-staying visitors changed more moderately. Several figures are accurate, including the total reaching 3.5 million in 2017 and cruise visitors reaching 2 million. However, the overview is unclear and partly inaccurate: the total is not a “proportion,” and visitors staying on the island did not simply “remain gradually rose”; they rose, levelled off, dipped slightly, then recovered. Some details also misreport the data: cruise visitors fluctuated between about 0.25 and 0.5 million from 2010 to 2013, not around 0.3 million throughout 2010–12, and island visitors reached about 1.5 million by 2013, not just over 1 million in 2016. Select and compare the main stages more precisely.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for the two visitor categories and the total. This makes the information generally easy to follow. However, the overview does not clearly establish the main comparisons, and the body paragraphs sometimes repeat the same pattern of “increased” followed by a figure rather than showing how the series relate. Phrases such as “The time period between…” are used repeatedly and make progression feel mechanical. The final paragraph also repeats the rise already mentioned without adding a useful comparison. Improve cohesion by grouping the overall total with the component trends, using clear contrasts such as “by comparison” or “while,” and ensuring each paragraph develops a distinct point.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “fluctuations,” “remained stable,” “dramatic rise,” and “peak,” and the reader can generally understand the trends you intend to describe. However, the range is limited by repeated use of “increased” and “visitors,” while several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward. For example, “the total visitors” is better expressed as “the total number of visitors,” and “the highest proportion” does not describe the graph’s total. “A large number of visitors who visit in a one area” is also unclear and repetitive. There are spelling errors such as “visiotrs” and “aroun,” which reduce accuracy. Aim for precise chart language, vary reporting verbs, and check spelling and natural word combinations.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
You attempt both simple and more complex forms, including clauses beginning “which” and time expressions such as “from…to…,” and most of the intended meaning remains understandable. However, some errors in sentence structure, agreement, articles, and number forms are noticeable. The overview sentence, “the most striking aspect shown in this figure the total visiotrs accounted…,” is missing a linking verb and has an unclear structure. In “The time period…experienced an fluctuations,” the article and noun form do not agree; “which was accounted for around…” also uses an unsuitable passive construction. Other examples include “1 million of tourists” and “increased gradually in 2016 at over 1 millions to 1.5 millions.” Use direct subject–verb sentences, check singular/plural forms and articles, and proofread each sentence for a complete grammatical structure.
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