Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-21
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 sum of visitors staying on cruise ship and staying on island when visiting a Caribbean Island in 2010 and 2017
Overall, the total number of tourists visiting a Caribbean Island has gradually increased over the period. The number of tourists staying on cruise ships also rose substantially. whereas the figure for tourist staying on the island fluctuated slightly.
In 2010, the island received over 1 million tourists in total. Of these, about 0.75 million stayed on the island, while only about 0.25 million tourists stayed on cruise ships.The total number then increased steadily, reaching 2 million in 2013 and 2.5 million in 2014. During this period, the number of cruise-ship visitors rose to 1 million, while the figure for visitors staying on the island reached 1.5 million.
From 2015 onwards, the total number of tourists continued to increase, reaching about 2.75 million in 2015 and 2016 before climbing to 3.5 million in 2017. The number staying on cruise ships rose steadily from 1.25 million in 2015 to 2 million in 2017. In contrast, the number staying on the island remained at 1.5 million in 2015, fell slightly to 1.25 million in 2016, and recovered to 1.5 million in 2017.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response effectively covers all requirements of the task. You have identified the main trends, such as the overall increase in total visitors and the contrasting patterns between cruise ship and island-stay tourists. The data is well-selected, and you have made relevant comparisons throughout the report. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the main features. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are perfectly accurate according to the graph; for instance, ensure the distinction between the categories is consistently maintained. Overall, the response is well-structured and addresses the prompt comprehensively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You have used paragraphing effectively to separate the overview from the detailed body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'In 2010', 'During this period', and 'In contrast' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the data. The flow between sentences is smooth, and the referencing is clear. There is a minor issue with the opening sentence's punctuation and the capitalization of 'Caribbean Island', but these do not impede the overall coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'gradually increased', 'rose substantially', and 'fluctuated slightly'. The terminology related to the graph is accurate. While the vocabulary is functional and appropriate for the task, it lacks some of the more sophisticated or 'less common' lexical items that would elevate the response to a higher band. There are minor errors, such as 'sum of visitors' (which is slightly unnatural; 'total number' is better) and 'staying on cruise ship' (missing an article). However, these do not cause any difficulty for the reader.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You have used complex sentences effectively, such as 'The total number then increased steadily, reaching 2 million in 2013 and 2.5 million in 2014.' There are some minor grammatical slips, such as the missing period after '2017' in the first paragraph and the lack of articles (e.g., 'staying on cruise ship'). However, these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, showing good control over basic and intermediate grammar.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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