Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-30
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 total number of visitors visiting a specific island from 2010 to 2017.
Overall, the total number of visitors shows an upward trend. Although visitors who stayed on cruise ships and visitors who stayed on the island fluctuated, they increased overall.
In 2010, the total number of tourists was 1 million, and it increased steadily to 1.5 million in 2012. It held the same trend and became nearly 2.7 million in 2015. Afterwards, the total number of visitors surged to 3.5 million.
The number of visitors who stayed on cruise ships was 0.7 million in 2010, which increased to 1.5 million in 2013. Though it fell to nearly 1 million tourists, it ended up with 1.5 million visitors. In 2010, the number of visitors who stayed on the island was approximately 0.2 million. The figure fluctuated and increased slightly to 0.5 million in 2013. Afterward, the figure dramatically increased and ended up with 2 million visitors in 2017.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response covers all parts of the task, providing a clear overview and reporting on the main features of the data. You have successfully identified the upward trend and highlighted the key figures for both cruise ship and island-stay visitors. However, the analysis could be improved by making more direct comparisons between the two categories rather than just describing them in separate paragraphs. For instance, noting that island-stay visitors overtook cruise ship visitors by the end of the period would have provided a more insightful summary. The data points are generally accurate, and the response is well-structured for an Academic Task 1 report.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, and two body paragraphs detailing the specific trends. Cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'In 2010', and 'Afterward' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the total figures from the specific categories. The progression of ideas is clear, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate a wider variety of linking phrases to connect the sentences more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the trends, such as 'upward trend', 'fluctuated', 'surged', and 'increased steadily'. These are appropriate for an IELTS Task 1 report. However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive, particularly the reliance on 'increased' and 'number of visitors'. To improve, try to use more precise synonyms or vary the way you describe the data points. For example, instead of 'the figure dramatically increased', you could use 'the figure experienced a sharp rise'. The word choice is accurate and does not impede communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically correct, and errors are infrequent. You have used complex structures like 'Although visitors who stayed on cruise ships... they increased overall' effectively. There are a few minor issues, such as 'It held the same trend' which is slightly unnatural; 'The trend continued' would be better. Punctuation is generally accurate, and the control over grammar is good enough to ensure that the meaning is always clear. To aim for a higher band, try to incorporate more varied complex structures, such as passive voice or participle clauses.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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