Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-31
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 graph illustrates the number of visitors to a Caribbean island over the period from 2010 to 2017.
Overall, the total number of tourists increased considerably over the period. While the number of visitors staying on cruise ships fluctuated before rising sharply, the figure for those staying on the island remained relatively stable after 2013.
The number of visitors staying on cruise ships stood at approximately 0.25 million in 2010 and rose steadily to around 0.5 million in 2011 before declining to about 0.25 million in 2012. It then increased sharply, reaching 1 million in 2014 and approximately 1.5 million in 2016, before rising further to around 2 million in 2017.
Similarly, the figure for visitors staying on the island stood at roughly 0.75 million in 2010 and remained stable until 2011. It then climbed to around 1.5 million in 2013 and remained at this level until 2015, before declining slightly to about 1.25 million in 2016. The figure then recovered to 1.5 million in 2017. In contrast, the total number of visitors increased more gradually, from around 1 million in 2010 to 2.5 million in 2014 and 2.75 million in 2015 and 2016, before reaching a high of 3.5 million in 2017.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response effectively addresses the task by identifying the main trends and providing relevant comparisons. You have successfully highlighted the key features, such as the sharp rise in cruise ship visitors and the relative stability of island-staying tourists after 2013. The overview is clear and captures the overall upward trend. All data points are accurately reported, and the comparison between the two categories and the total is well-integrated. To reach a higher band, ensure that the most significant features are highlighted even more prominently in the overview, perhaps by explicitly contrasting the growth rates of the two categories throughout the period.
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 detailed body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'Similarly', 'In contrast', and 'before rising further' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. 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 reader's understanding of the data trends without any confusion.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a data-description task. Phrases like 'rose steadily', 'remained relatively stable', and 'declining slightly' are used accurately to describe trends. There is a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey precision, and the word choices are natural. While the vocabulary is effective, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'increased' and 'decreased' would elevate the response further. The spelling is accurate throughout, and the terminology related to the graph is used correctly.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The response displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of 'While...' clauses and participial phrases like 'reaching 1 million in 2014'. The majority of sentences are error-free, and your control over tense and punctuation is strong. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. To achieve a higher score, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex structures, such as passive voice constructions or more varied subordinate clauses, to demonstrate even greater flexibility in your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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