Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-11
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 visitors, measured in millions, to a Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017. The data is divided into two categories: tourists staying on cruise ships and those staying on the island.
Overall, it is evident that the total number of visitors increased substantially over the period, despite a slight dip in 2016. Cruise ship tourism experienced the most dramatic growth, eventually surpassing island-based tourism by the end of the period.
In 2010, only 0.2 million visitors stayed on cruise ships, compared with 0.7 million who stayed on the island. Cruise ship figures rose sharply to 0.5 million in 2011, before falling back to 0.2 million in 2012. However, from 2012 onwards, the trend was consistently upward, reaching 2 million by 2017, overtaking island tourists.
By contrast, island visitors showed a more moderate pattern. Numbers remained stable at 0.7 million in 2010 and 2011, then climbed steadily to a peak of 1.5 million in 2013. After this point, the figure plateaued, fluctuating slightly but remaining close to 1.5 million, with a minor dip to 1.4 million in 2016.
The total number of visitors rose from 1 million in 2010 to 3.5 million in 2017, with the only exception being 2016, when the figure dropped slightly to 2.7 million. This overall growth was largely driven by the surge in cruise ship tourism.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0
The response is excellent and fully addresses all requirements of the task. You have successfully identified the main trends, such as the overall growth in visitor numbers and the shift in popularity between cruise ship and island-based tourism. The data is accurately reported, and you have made effective comparisons between the two categories throughout the text. The inclusion of an overview that highlights the key features is a strong point, as is the logical selection of data points to support your summary. There are no omissions, and the information is presented in a clear, professional manner that directly answers the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
Your writing is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from the introduction to the overview, then to detailed body paragraphs, and finally a summary of the total figures. The use of cohesive devices such as 'By contrast', 'However', and 'after this point' is effective and natural, ensuring the text flows smoothly. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different aspects of the data. The structure is coherent throughout, and the relationship between the different data points is easy to follow, which is essential for a high-scoring Task 1 response.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.5
You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary that is well-suited to the task. Phrases such as 'dramatic growth', 'surpassing', 'moderate pattern', and 'plateaued' show a sophisticated command of language. The vocabulary is precise and used accurately in context. You avoid repetition by using varied terminology to describe trends and changes in the data. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is natural and appropriate for an academic report. This level of lexical control is consistent with a high band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The response displays a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You effectively use both simple and complex sentence forms, such as the participial phrase 'eventually surpassing island-based tourism' and the contrastive structure 'while remaining close to 1.5 million'. Punctuation is used correctly to manage complex sentences, and there are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the report. This reflects a high level of grammatical competence.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.