Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-22

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 shows infomation about the figures of tourists who visited caribbean island between 2010 to 2017.

Overall, it can be seen that the numbers of tourists considerable rose over a period. Another interesting information is that the graph fluctuates of visitors who stayed on island.

To begin with, the graph of total visitors were increased considerable. In 2010 the it was 1 million visitors it fluctuates and reached at 3.5 tourists in 2017.

The tourists who came Caribbean island and staying on cruise ship was about 250k visitors in 2010. It fluctuate and reached at 1 million in 2014 and then it rose and in 2017 it was 2 million tourists. The graph of visitors staying on island was 750k in 2010. It stayed levelled off in 2011 and from 2011 it climbed and reached at over 1 million in 2016. In 2017 it was at 1.5 million visitors in caribbean island.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the overall rise in total visitors and note that island-based visitor numbers fluctuate, then cover all three series with relevant figures. The cruise-ship trend is reported accurately, including its rise to 2 million by 2017, and the island figure at the end is also correct. However, some details are unclear or incomplete: saying the total “fluctuates” does not convey its broadly steady increase, and the island series is described as climbing to “over 1 million in 2016” without noting that it actually dips from 1.5 million to about 1.25 million before recovering. A clearer overview comparing the strong cruise-ship growth with the relatively stable island figures would make the key features more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs describing the total and the two visitor categories. This makes the information reasonably easy to follow, and phrases such as “To begin with” and “in 2017” help signal progression. However, some linking is mechanical or unclear. For example, “It fluctuates and reached at 3.5” does not clearly explain the total’s progression, while “from 2011 it climbed” oversimplifies the island trend. The final paragraph also combines both categories without a strong comparison between them. Use more precise links to show changes over time and contrasts, and ensure each sentence clearly identifies which series it refers to.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “total visitors,” “cruise ship,” “stayed levelled off,” and “reached,” so the main trends can generally be understood. However, the range and control are limited by repeated wording such as “visitors,” “graph,” and “reached,” as well as inaccurate collocations and word forms. “The numbers of tourists considerable rose” and “the graph fluctuates of visitors” are not natural expressions, and “infomation” is misspelled. Aim for more precise trend language and accurate combinations, such as “the total increased considerably” or “visitor numbers on the island fluctuated.” This would make the description clearer and more appropriately formal without requiring unnecessarily complex vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the reader can usually understand the main comparisons. However, grammatical control is uneven, particularly in verb forms, sentence construction, and articles. Examples include “the graph of total visitors were increased,” “In 2010 the it was,” and “It stayed levelled off,” where the subject and verb patterns are faulty. The sentence “In 2010 the it was 1 million visitors it fluctuates” also joins ideas without appropriate punctuation or a clear clause structure. Practise forming accurate past-tense sentences, for example, “The total stood at 1 million in 2010 and rose to 3.5 million by 2017.” More consistently accurate sentence patterns would improve clarity.

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