Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-27
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 from 2010 to 2017, categorized into those staying on cruise ships, those staying on the island, and the total number of visitors.
Overall, the total number of tourists showed a steady upward trend throughout the period. In 2010, it started at about 1 million and increased significantly to around 3.5 million by 2017.
The number of visitors staying on the island had a more stable pattern. It began at around 0.75 million in 2010, slowly increased from 2011 to 1.5 million in 2013, and remained at approximately 1.5 million from 2013 to 2015. It slightly dropped to around 1.2 million in 2016 before rebounded to 1.5 million in 2017.
The number of tourists staying on cruise ships had a more erratic growth. Starting at a low of about 0.25 million in 2010, it first rose to around 0.5 million in 2011, dropped back to the 2010 level in 2012, then grew steadily, reaching about 2 million in 2017.
Comparatively, the growth rate of cruise-ship visitors was much more variable compared to those staying on the island, but both contributed to the overall increase in the total number of tourists to the island.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response effectively addresses all requirements of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the trends and successfully highlighted the main features, such as the steady growth of total visitors and the contrasting patterns between cruise ship and island-staying tourists. The data is accurately reported, and the comparisons made between the two categories are relevant and well-supported by the figures provided. You have successfully identified the key trends 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 progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction, the overview, and the two body paragraphs detailing the specific categories. Cohesive devices such as 'In 2010', 'Overall', and 'Comparatively' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows smoothly from one point to the next. The use of referencing is clear, and the structure supports the overall summary well, meeting the criteria for a Band 8.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'steady upward trend', 'erratic growth', and 'rebounded'. The language is precise and appropriate for an academic report. While the vocabulary is accurate and functional, it occasionally leans towards standard descriptive terms. To reach the highest band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' to demonstrate a wider, more flexible range. However, the current usage is precise and error-free, which is strong for this level.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The writing displays a good variety of complex structures, such as the use of participial phrases ('categorized into...') and subordinate clauses ('while both contributed to...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is excellent. There is one minor slip in the third paragraph: 'before rebounded' should be 'before rebounding'. Aside from this, the grammatical control is very high, and the sentence structures are varied and sophisticated enough to support clear communication throughout the report.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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