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 illustrates the number of tourists visiting a Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017, divided into visitors staying on cruise ships and those staying on the island.

Overall, the total number of visitors increased considerably over the period, rising from 1 million in 2010 to 3.5 million in 2017. Visitors staying on cruise ships experienced the most significant growth, while the number of tourists staying on the island remained relatively stable after 2013.

In 2010, approximately 0.75 million tourists stayed on the island, compared with only 0.25 million who stayed on cruise ships. The number of island-based visitors remained unchanged in 2011, before increasing to 1.5 million in 2013. It then remained at this level until 2015, fell slightly to around 1.25 million in 2016, and recovered to 1.5 million in 2017.

By contrast, cruise-ship visitors increased from 0.25 million in 2010 to 0.5 million in 2011, before briefly falling in 2012. Thereafter, the figure rose steadily, reaching 2 million in 2017. Consequently, total tourism peaked at 3.5 million in the final year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends, noting the significant growth in cruise-ship tourism and the relative stability of island-based stays. The key features, such as the peak in 2017 and the comparative figures for 2010, are accurately reported. The data is well-selected to support the summary, and the comparisons between the two categories are logical and relevant. You have successfully highlighted the main features without getting bogged down in unnecessary detail, which is exactly what is required for a Band 8 performance in this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, and two body paragraphs that group the information by category. The progression of ideas is smooth, and you make effective use of cohesive devices such as 'By contrast', 'Thereafter', and 'Consequently'. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the referencing is clear throughout. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between the different data points is easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a high band score in this area.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for describing trends, such as 'remained relatively stable', 'experienced the most significant growth', and 'peaked'. The language is precise and natural. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the context well, it stays within a standard range. To reach the highest band, you could incorporate slightly more sophisticated or varied synonyms for 'increased' or 'remained' to show even greater flexibility, but the current usage is already very effective and error-free.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences with subordinate clauses (e.g., '...divided into visitors staying on cruise ships and those staying on the island'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and tense usage is excellent. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. The variety of sentence structures used to describe the data trends is impressive and shows a high level of accuracy and control.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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