Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-09
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 7.5)
The line graph illustrates the number of tourists who visited a specific Caribbean island over an eight -year period from 2010 to 2017, broken down by accommodation type alongside the total visitor count.
Overall, the total number of tourists visiting the island experienced a significant upward trend over the period. While the number of visitors staying on the island was initially higher, it was eventually overtaken by the rapid growth in cruise ship passengers in the final years.
In 2010, total visitor numbers stood at 1 million, with the majority choosing to stay on the island, compared to only 0.3 million staying on cruise ships. Over the next three years, the number of island guests rose steadily to peak at 1.5 million in 2013, a figure that remained stable until 2015 before experiencing a slight decline to approximately 1.3 by 2017.
In contrast, the number of cruise ship tourists initially dipped to a low of approximately 0.2 million in 2012. However, this figure saw a rapid and continuous surge after 2012, overtaking the number of island stayers in 2016 at roughly 1.3 million. By 2017, cruise ship passengers reached a peak of nearly 2 million. This growth drove the total number of visitors to its highest point of approximately 3.5 million by the end of the period.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have clearly identified the main trends, such as the overall upward trajectory of total visitors and the contrasting patterns between island stayers and cruise ship passengers. The data is accurately reported, and the comparison between the two categories is well-integrated. You successfully highlighted key features, such as the crossover point in 2016 and the peak figures for both categories. The overview is clear and provides a concise summary of the main developments, which is essential for a high band score. No significant information was omitted, and the data points selected are relevant and support the overall analysis.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group information effectively. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the general trend to specific data points. Cohesive devices, such as 'In contrast', 'However', and 'while', are used appropriately to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is logical, separating the two distinct trends for clarity. The flow of information is natural, and the reader can easily follow the comparison between the two types of accommodation. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, using terms like 'upward trend', 'rapid growth', 'steady', and 'surge' to describe the data accurately. The language is precise and appropriate for an academic report. You avoid repetition by using varied synonyms for 'tourists' and 'visitors'. While the vocabulary is effective and natural, it occasionally relies on standard collocations. To reach the highest band, you could incorporate a few more sophisticated or less common lexical items to describe the fluctuations in the graph, though your current usage is already quite strong and precise.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The response displays a variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses ('While the number of visitors... it was eventually overtaken...') and participial phrases. The grammar is highly accurate, with very few errors. Punctuation is used correctly to manage the flow of information. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the text. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a high level of grammatical competence, which is well-suited for an academic task of this nature.
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