Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-28
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 8.5)
### Band 9 Model Answer — 200 words
The line graph illustrates the number of tourists, measured in millions, who visited a Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017, with the figures divided into visitors staying on cruise ships and those staying on the island itself.
Overall, the total number of visitors increased substantially over the period, more than tripling from 1 million to 3.5 million. Although both categories experienced growth, tourists staying on cruise ships accounted for the greater share of the overall increase. By contrast, the number staying on the island remained relatively stable after 2013.
In 2010, exactly 1 million tourists visited the island, of whom approximately 0.75 million stayed on the island and 0.25 million on cruise ships. The total then rose steadily to 2 million in 2013, as the number of island-based visitors doubled to 1.5 million, while cruise-ship visitors reached 0.5 million. Over the following two years, the total continued climbing, reaching 2.75 million in 2015, largely because cruise-ship visitors doubled to 1 million.
From 2015 onwards, the two groups followed contrasting trends. While the number staying on the island declined slightly to 1.25 million in 2016 before recovering to 1.5 million in 2017, cruise-ship visitors rose sharply to 1.5 million and then 2 million. Consequently, the overall figure peaked at 3.5 million in 2017.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 8.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.5 |
| Overall | 8.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5
The response is excellent. It fully addresses all parts of the task by identifying the main trends and providing specific data points to support the description. The overview is clear and highlights the most significant features, such as the overall growth and the contrasting trends between the two visitor categories. The comparison between cruise-ship and island-based visitors is well-integrated throughout the text, demonstrating a clear understanding of the data. The information is accurate and well-selected, ensuring the reader gets a comprehensive summary of the graph's key features without unnecessary detail.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5
The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose: an introduction, a high-level overview, and two detailed body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'By contrast', 'Over the following two years', and 'Consequently' are used naturally and effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is skillful, and the flow of information is smooth, making the report very easy to follow. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words.
Lexical Resource — Band 8.5
The vocabulary is precise, sophisticated, and perfectly suited to the task. The writer uses a wide range of topic-specific language such as 'accounted for the greater share', 'remained relatively stable', and 'contrasting trends'. The control over word choice and collocation is natural and demonstrates a high level of proficiency. There are no errors in spelling or word formation, and the language used is both accurate and varied, contributing to the professional tone of the report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5
The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences with subordinate clauses and varied sentence beginnings. The accuracy is exceptional, with no grammatical errors observed. The use of punctuation is precise, and the control over tense and aspect is consistent throughout the report. The writer successfully balances simple and complex structures to maintain a fluent and professional narrative, meeting the criteria for the highest band level.
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