Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-15

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 6.5)

The line graph illustrates the number of tourists who visited a specific Caribbean island over a seven-year period, from 2010 to 2017.

Overall, it is evident that the figures underwent considerable changes over the period, with total visitors recorded the most significant increase while visitors staying on cruise ships followed a downward trend.

To begin with, in 2010, the total number of tourists visiting the Caribbean island stood at exactly 1 million. At this time, staying on the island was by far the most popular choice, accounting fro 0.75 million visitors, whereas a mere 0.25 million tourists opted to stay on cruise ships. Over the next three years, the island experienced a steady rise in tourism. By 2013, the number of visitors staying on the island had doubled to reach 1.5 million. meanwhile, the number of cruise ship passengers saw a much slower increase, reaching 0.5 million.

Additionally, over the next two year, the number of tourists staying on the cruise ships increased to reach more than 1.2 million, while the number of visitors staying on island plateaued at 1.5 million. Moreover, the total number of visitors experienced its highest figure in 2017 at 3.5 million.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. You covered all categories (total, island stay, and cruise ship) and made relevant comparisons between them. The data points are generally accurate, and you have highlighted the key features, such as the growth in cruise ship passengers and the plateauing of island visitors. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are fully accurate; for instance, ensure your summary of the 2017 figures aligns precisely with the visual data provided. Overall, the response is well-structured and addresses the prompt effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'meanwhile', and 'additionally' to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different time periods and categories. The progression of ideas is clear, moving from the initial state in 2010 to the subsequent changes. To improve, ensure that referencing is always precise and that the transition between sentences remains smooth to avoid any mechanical feel in the use of linking words.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'underwent considerable changes', 'downward trend', and 'plateaued' are used effectively in an academic context. There are a few minor errors, such as the typo 'accounting fro' instead of 'for' and 'over the next two year' instead of 'years'. While these do not impede communication, correcting these small slips would improve the overall precision. You have successfully used topic-specific vocabulary related to data description, which is a strength.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the use of 'whereas' and 'while' to create contrast. Most sentences are clear and easy to follow. However, there are some grammatical slips, such as the pluralization error in 'two year' and the minor tense or prepositional inconsistencies. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control of grammar is generally good. To move to a higher band, focus on eliminating these minor slips and incorporating a slightly wider variety of complex grammatical structures to demonstrate greater flexibility.

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