Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-26
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 image illustrates the data about the tourists visiting an specific caribbean island from the year 2010 to the year 2017. The x-axis represents years whereas the y-axis shows the number of visitors in millions.
To begin with the year 2010 the visitors were about 1million in total including both on the cruise ship and on island, then the number of visitors slightly rose to 1.2 million in the year 2011. furthermore in the year 2012 the surge has been seen in the total number of visitors till the year 2015 which was about 2.7 million visitors in total.
Later from the year 2015 to 2016 the number of overall visitors were stable which was increased again in the year 2017 this was the highest number of tourist ever recorded from the year 2010 to 2017.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5
You identify the period and report the broad rise in total visitors, including the plateau from 2015 to 2016 and the peak in 2017. However, the response does not provide a clear overview of the two visitor categories or explain how their patterns differ. The statement that the total rose from 2012 “till the year 2015” also leaves out the continued increase to 2017, and the figures are limited to a few totals rather than key comparisons between cruise-ship and island visitors. The task requires at least 150 words, and this response is 13 words short. To strengthen the report, add an overview and compare the categories, noting that island stays were higher for most years while cruise-ship numbers rose sharply toward the end.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a basic chronological structure: it begins with the early years, moves to the middle of the period, and then describes the final years. This makes the general sequence understandable. However, the three paragraphs do not form a fully developed report, and the first paragraph combines several years without clearly separating the trends. Linking is also limited and sometimes awkward: “To begin with” and “Later” signal sequence, but “furthermore” does not clearly show the relationship between the 2012 rise and the later figures. Use a distinct overview paragraph, then group the data into meaningful stages or categories. Clearer links such as “Meanwhile” and “By contrast” would help show how the two visitor groups compare.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use some relevant vocabulary for describing a graph, including “rose,” “surge,” “stable,” and “highest number,” so the main trend can be understood. However, the range is limited and several expressions are imprecise or unnatural for an academic report. For example, “the surge has been seen” is an awkward way to describe a rise, while “tourist ever recorded” does not accurately express the number of visitors. Repetition of “number of visitors” also limits variety. Aim for precise trend language and accurate collocations, such as “the total climbed steadily” or “visitor numbers reached a peak.” Check spelling and capitalization, including “Caribbean,” and use “million” consistently in numerical descriptions.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
You attempt to combine information in longer sentences, and the overall meaning is generally recoverable. However, sentence structures are often awkward or incomplete, and errors in tense, agreement, articles, and punctuation reduce accuracy. For instance, “the surge has been seen” shifts into the present perfect when describing past data, and “the number of overall visitors were stable” has a subject–verb agreement error. The final sentence joins two independent ideas without suitable punctuation: “which was increased again in the year 2017 this was…” Practise using a consistent past tense and separating long statements into controlled sentences. Also check article use and spacing in forms such as “1 million.”
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