Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-18
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 shows the number of tourists visiting a Caribbean island from 2010 to 2017, including visitors staying on cruise ships and those staying on the island.
Overall, the total number of tourists increased considerably during the period. While the number of visitors staying on the island rose steadily before remaining stable, the figure for cruise ship tourists grew sharply and eventually became the larger group.
In 2010, the island received 1 million tourists in total, including about 0.75 million staying on the island and 0.25 million on cruise ships. By 2013, the total number had doubled to 2 million. During this time, visitors staying on the island increased to around 1.5 million, whereas cruise ship tourists remained below 1 million.
After 2013, the number of tourists staying on the island levelled off at approximately 1.5 million. In contrast, cruise ship visitors rose dramatically, reaching 2 million in 2017. As a result, total tourist numbers climbed steadily and peaked at 3.5 million at 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 growth in tourist numbers and the contrasting patterns between cruise ship visitors and those staying on the island. The overview is well-constructed, highlighting the key shift where cruise ship tourism eventually overtook island-stay tourism. You have selected relevant data points to support your descriptions, such as the doubling of figures by 2013 and the final peak in 2017. The information is accurate and provides a clear summary of the graph's data without unnecessary detail, meeting the requirements for a high band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose: the introduction, the overview, and the two body paragraphs detailing the data. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In contrast', 'As a result', and 'During this time', which help guide the reader through the information smoothly. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different stages of the data analysis. The flow between sentences is natural, and there is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive linking, which contributes to a very coherent piece of writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases like 'remained stable', 'grew sharply', 'levelled off', and 'climbed steadily' are precise and accurately describe the trends shown in the graph. The language is natural and fits the context of describing statistical data well. While the vocabulary is effective and clear, it could be pushed further towards a Band 8 or 9 by incorporating slightly more sophisticated or varied collocations to describe the magnitude of change, but the current range is more than sufficient for a high score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The writing displays a high level of grammatical control. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the use of 'While...' and 'As a result...' to connect ideas. Punctuation is accurate throughout, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over verb tenses (past simple for the period 2010-2017) is consistent and correct. The grammatical accuracy is very strong, supporting the clarity of your report.
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