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 chart illustrates the number of people who visited a particular Caribbean island from 2010 to 2017.

Overall, it is clear that the number of tourists who stayed on cruise ships has increased dramatically while visitors who stayed on island have fluctuated throughout the years.

In 2010, the people who visited on cruise ships started at 0.3 million and reached 0.5 million in 2011. After that the people again stuck off and reached at 0.5 in 2012. Whereas, the persons who visiting stayed on ships are increased significantly and reached 1 in 2014. Similarly, the number of visitors has showed a dramatic rise and reached 2 in 2017 respectively.

On the other hand, the tourists who stayed on island has started at 0.8 In 2010 while in 2011 has remain stable. While In 2014, ration of visitors who stayed on island has increased steadily and reached 1.5 million. So, at the end there are also remain constant. The total number of tourists has increased significantly, starts from 1 and reached at 3.5 million

In 2017.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the overall rise in cruise-ship visitors and the comparatively steadier pattern for people staying on the island, and you include the total’s increase from 1 million to 3.5 million. These are relevant main features. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: cruise-ship visitors fell to about 0.25 million in 2012, rather than reaching 0.5 million, and the island-stayer figure rose to 1.5 million by 2013, then remained around that level until 2015 before dipping in 2016. Your account of this series skips these stages, and the overview could compare the two groups more precisely. Report the main turning points and distinguish the total from the two visitor categories more consistently.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the visitor groups and total. This gives the reader a general route through the information. However, progression within the detail paragraph is weakened by unclear references and transitions. For example, “After that the people again stuck off” does not clearly identify which series or movement is meant, and “Similarly” introduces a point whose relationship to the previous one is uncertain. The repeated “On the other hand” and “While” also make connections feel mechanical. Group the figures into a clear sequence for each category, use linking phrases only when the relationship is clear, and keep the total’s trend in a separate, concise sentence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary such as “visitors,” “increased,” “fluctuated,” and “total number,” so the main trends are generally understandable. There is also some attempt to vary wording, including “dramatic rise” and “increased steadily.” However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing a graph: “stuck off,” “ration of visitors,” and “persons who visiting” make parts of the report difficult to interpret. “Dramatically” and “significantly” are also repeated without adding precision. Choose standard trend language and use it accurately—for example, describe a figure as rising, falling, remaining stable, or reaching a peak. More precise vocabulary would make the comparisons clearer and reduce repetition.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast with “while” and a time clause beginning “After that.” The overall meaning can usually be followed, but errors in verb forms, agreement, and sentence construction are persistent. Examples include “the number … has increased” followed by “visitors … has fluctuated,” “the people again stuck off,” and “at the end there are also remain constant.” The sentence beginning “Whereas” is also incomplete as written. Use past simple consistently for the completed period, check singular and plural subjects, and make sure contrast clauses are attached to a complete main clause. These corrections would improve accuracy while preserving your attempts at varied structures.

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