Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-07-24

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 8.0)

The line graph illustrate the number of tourists visiting a particular Caribbean island between 2010 to 2017.

In 2010, the island received 1 million tourists in total, including approximately 0.75 million visitors staying on the island and 0.25 million staying on cruise ships. By 2012, the total number had risen to 1.5 million, mainly due to an increase in tourists staying on the island, while the number of cruise ship visitors fell slightly to 0.25 million.

From 2013 onwards, total tourist numbers continued to rise, reaching 2.5 million in 2014 and remaining stable at around 2.7 million in 2015 and 2016 before climbing to 3.5 million in 2017. The number of tourists staying on the island increased to 1.5 million by 2013 and then remained relatively unchanged, apart from a slight dip to 1.25 million in 2016. In contrast, the figure for cruise ship visitors grew significantly from 0.5 million in 2013 to 2 million by 2017, overtaking visitors staying on the island in the final year.

Overall, the total number of tourists increased steadily throughout the period, rising from 1 million in 2010 to 3.5 million in 2017. While the number of tourists staying on the island grew gradually before stabilising, the number of visitors staying on cruise ships increased sharply after 2013 and eventually became the larger.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. You covered all parts of the task, including the total number of tourists and the breakdown between island-staying and cruise ship visitors. The comparisons are relevant, particularly the observation that cruise ship visitors overtook island-staying tourists by the end of the period. The data is accurately reported, and the key features are highlighted effectively. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points mentioned are strictly supported by the graph, as some minor discrepancies in the interpretation of the figures can occur. Overall, this is a very strong and comprehensive response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You have used paragraphing effectively to separate the introduction, the body paragraphs, and the summary. Cohesive devices such as 'In 2010', 'By 2012', 'From 2013 onwards', and 'In contrast' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the data. The flow between sentences is smooth, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow. The use of referencing is clear, and the overall structure is well-managed, meeting the requirements for a high band score in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a task of this nature. Phrases such as 'remained relatively unchanged', 'grew significantly', and 'overtaking visitors' show a good command of descriptive language. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, and your word choice is generally precise. While there are no major errors, incorporating a slightly wider variety of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' would further enhance the sophistication of your writing. The vocabulary used is sufficient to convey your points clearly and accurately throughout the report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. However, there are a few minor grammatical slips, such as 'The line graph illustrate' (should be 'illustrates') and 'became the larger' (should be 'became the larger group'). Despite these occasional errors, the majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control of grammar and punctuation is generally strong. The errors do not impede communication, and you show the ability to construct complex sentences to describe trends and comparisons. Focusing on subject-verb agreement will help you achieve a higher score.

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