Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-03

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 millions of back packers who travelled to a particular Caribbean island from 2010 to 2017,

Overall, the proportion of visitors to the Caribbean island recorded a considerable growth without any fluctuations. However, the numbers declined for the visitors who preferred to stay on island. While a proportion of tourists staying on cruise ship followed opposite trend.

As per the graph, in 2010, number of visitors were 1 million that rose significantly every year and reached at 3.5 million in 2017. In addition, the figures of tourists who chose to stay on cruise ship gradually increased despite slight plummets, which was just below 0.5 million in 2012 and managed to reached up to 2 million in following years.

On the other hand, the proportion of visitors was 0.8 million who preferred to stay on island. After a sudden increase in 2011, it fell to 1.3 million, before rising to 1.5 million in 2017.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the graph, including the overall trend and specific data points for the two categories. However, there are inaccuracies in the reporting of data. For instance, you state the total visitors reached 3.5 million in 2017, but the graph shows the total is the sum of the two categories, which is higher. Additionally, your description of the 'island stay' trend as having a 'sudden increase in 2011' followed by a fall to 1.3 million is confusing and does not clearly reflect the visual data. To improve, ensure that data points are read precisely and that comparisons between the two categories are more clearly defined.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'However', 'In addition', and 'On the other hand' are used to link ideas. However, the progression of ideas is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing, such as 'While a proportion of tourists staying on cruise ship followed opposite trend', which lacks a clear subject. The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs could be smoother to improve the overall flow of information.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'fluctuations', and 'significantly'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'back packers' is an informal term and may not be accurate based on the graph provided. The phrase 'managed to reached up to' is grammatically incorrect, and 'slight plummets' is an unusual collocation. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and ensuring that collocations are natural and appropriate for a formal report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity, such as 'number of visitors were 1 million' (subject-verb agreement) and 'managed to reached up to' (incorrect verb form). Additionally, there are missing articles throughout the text, such as 'stay on island' instead of 'stay on the island'. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and article usage will significantly improve your accuracy.

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