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 graph illustrates number of visitors visiting a Caribbean island from 2010 to 2017.

There are two type of visitors one who stays on cruise, wile the other group is one who stays on Island. It is represented that tourists are more inclined on residing on cruise ships than on Island over the years from 2010 to 2107. Number of cruise ships stays shows an increasing trend while staying on island represent a declining trend.

In 2011 and mid of 2015 number of visitors on both locations are same. From 2011 to 2012 cruise ships demonstrate a downward slope while island slope is upward. Cruise ships stays marginally increasing from 2013 till 2015 in constrat with island stays which represents a consitent trend. From mid of 2015 both locations represent same level of ineterest by tourists, while Ships stays increases onward and Island stays marginally decreases.

However, total number of tourist increase over the time period from 2010 to 2017.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the overall rise in total visitors and describe changes in both visitor groups, so the response is relevant to the graph. However, the overview is not fully accurate: cruise-ship visitors do not exceed island visitors throughout the period; they remain lower until 2017, when the figures are approximately equal. The claim that island stays show a declining trend also overlooks their overall increase from about 0.75 million to 1.5 million, despite a small fall in 2016. Some comparisons are unclear or inaccurate, including the statement that the groups are equal in 2011 and “mid of 2015.” To strengthen the report, give a precise overview and select key start- and end-point figures to support the trends.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic sequence: it introduces the graph, discusses the two visitor categories, and ends with the total trend. Time references such as “From 2011 to 2012” help the reader follow some changes. However, there is no clear paragraphing, and the middle section moves rapidly between comparisons without a consistent progression. Connectors such as “while,” “in contrast,” and “however” are repeated or do not always clarify the relationship between ideas. For example, the sentence beginning “From mid of 2015” is difficult to interpret because the comparison and time point are imprecise. Organise the report into an introduction, a concise overview, and grouped detail paragraphs, using clearer references to years and categories.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-related vocabulary, including “increasing trend,” “downward slope,” and “marginally,” which helps describe movement in the graph. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or awkward, sometimes making the meaning difficult to follow. Examples include “number of visitors visiting,” “tourists are more inclined on residing,” and “same level of interest by tourists”; these do not naturally describe visitor totals. There are also noticeable spelling errors, such as “wile,” “constrat,” “consitent,” and “ineterest.” Aim for precise chart language, such as “the number of cruise-ship visitors rose” and “the figures were equal,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more complex sentence forms, including comparisons with “while” and “in contrast.” However, grammatical control is inconsistent, and errors occur in basic sentence patterns as well as longer constructions. For example, “There are two type of visitors” has a number-agreement error, while “Number of cruise ships stays shows” has problems with articles, agreement, and sentence structure. The sentence “Cruise ships stays marginally increasing” also lacks a correctly formed verb phrase. These errors can make the intended comparisons hard to understand. Practise forming complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, checking singular/plural agreement, articles, and consistent tense before adding more complex clauses.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.