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 line shows the number of tourists who visited a caribbean island between 2010 and 2017. It copmares total visitors, tourists staying on the island, and visitors staying on curise ships.

Overall, the total number of tourists increased significantly during the period. The number of visitors staying on cruise ships also rose considerably, while the number of visitors staying on island remained almost stable in the later years.

In 2010, the island received 1 millions tourists in total. The figures increased gradually 1.5 millions in 2012. It then rose 2 million in 2013 and reached 2.5 millions in 2014. After that, the number went up to around 2.7 millions in 2015 and stayed the smae in 2016. finally it reached 3.5 millions in 2017.

The number of tourists staying on the island started at about 0.7 in 2010 and then grew to 1.3 in 2012. The visitor of island increased in 2015 to 1.5 millions and then decreased 1.3 millions in 2016 and reached 1.5 millions at 2017.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You provide a relevant overview, identifying the strong rise in total visitors and the relative stability of island-based visitors in the later years. Several key total figures are also reported accurately, including 2 million in 2013 and 3.5 million in 2017. However, the account is only partial: the cruise-ship series is named in the introduction and overview but is not described with any figures or specific trend details, despite its marked growth from about 0.25 million to 2 million. Some island figures are also omitted, such as the rise to 1.5 million by 2013 and the plateau through 2015. Include the main movement in all three series and make their changing relationship clearer.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction and overview to details about total visitors and then island visitors. This gives the reader a basic route through the information, and time markers such as “In 2010,” “After that,” and “finally” help show chronology. However, progression is uneven because the cruise-ship series is not developed after being introduced, and the final paragraph ends without a concluding comparison. Some linking is repetitive or awkward, while the sequence of total figures is presented as a list rather than grouped into meaningful stages. Organise the body around the main trends, and use comparisons to connect the series rather than reporting each figure in isolation.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary such as “total number,” “increased significantly,” “remained almost stable,” and “reached,” which communicates the broad trends. However, the range is limited and some word choices or collocations are inaccurate, including “The line shows,” “The visitor of island,” and “stayed the smae.” There are also spelling errors in “copmares,” “curise,” and “smae,” which reduce the accuracy and polish of the report. Try to use precise chart language consistently, for example “the graph compares” and “visitors staying on the island.” A wider set of trend verbs and comparison phrases would also help you describe the cruise-ship figures and distinguish gradual growth from periods of stability.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You communicate the main timeline using mostly simple sentences and some joined clauses, such as “After that, the number went up to around 2.7 millions in 2015 and stayed the same in 2016.” However, grammatical errors occur frequently enough to make several sentences less accurate. Examples include “increased gradually 1.5 millions” (missing a preposition and correct number form), “The visitor of island increased” (number and sentence construction), and “then decreased 1.3 millions” (missing “to”). Articles and prepositions are also inconsistent in phrases such as “staying on island” and “at 2017.” Use a wider mix of accurate sentence patterns, and check that each change is expressed with the correct verb pattern, such as “rose to” or “fell to.”

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