Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-26

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 6.0)

The line graph illustrates the figure of visitors of a specific Caribbean island from 2010 to 2017.

Overall, the number of tourists increased significantly over the period. The number of visitors staying on cruise ships surpassed visitors staying on land and reached the highest figure, even though they started with a lower number on the chart.

The total number of visitors commenced at just 1 million in 2010 but increased exponentially, reaching its peak at 3.5 million in 2017 after a slight drop to around 2.6 million in 2016. In terms of visitors staying on island, it began at about 0.8 million people in 2010 and stayed in that level in the next year before experiencing dramatic increase to 1.5 million in 2013. The number of visitors plateaued at this level until the remaining timeline but showed a mild decrease to around 1.3 in 2016.

The number opting for visitors staying on cruise ships experienced some fluctuations in the initial years but started rising since 2013 (0.5 million), a trend that continued year on year, soaring to its peak at 2 million tourists.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all requirements of the task. You have identified the main trends and provided relevant data points to support your summary. The overview is clear and highlights the key contrast between the two categories of visitors. However, there are some inaccuracies in the data reporting; for instance, you mention the total visitors reached 3.5 million in 2017, but the graph shows the cruise ship visitors alone reached 2 million, and the total is clearly higher. Additionally, the description of the cruise ship trend as 'fluctuating' in the early years is slightly vague. To reach a higher band, ensure that data points are transcribed with absolute precision and that the overview synthesizes the trends more effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'In terms of', 'even though', and 'a trend that continued' to link ideas. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the referencing could be smoother. For example, the phrase 'the remaining timeline' is not standard English and disrupts the flow. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different categories of visitors, which helps the reader follow the progression of information. Overall, the structure is clear, but more sophisticated linking words would improve the cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information clearly. Phrases like 'soaring to its peak', 'plateaued at this level', and 'increased exponentially' are effective. However, there are some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'the figure of visitors of a specific Caribbean island' (should be 'the number of visitors to...') and 'stayed in that level' (should be 'remained at that level'). There is also a slight repetition of 'number of visitors'. Expanding your range of synonyms and ensuring more natural collocations would help you achieve a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses with 'even though' and 'after a slight drop'. While many sentences are error-free, there are some grammatical slips, such as 'the number opting for visitors staying on cruise ships' (which is redundant and grammatically awkward) and 'stayed in that level' (preposition error). Punctuation is generally accurate, but the control over complex structures is not yet consistent enough for a higher band. Focusing on eliminating these minor errors and refining your use of prepositions will improve your accuracy.

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.