Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-04

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 graph illustrates the duration of 7 years between 2010 and 2017, during which millions of visitors visited a specific Caribbean island.

Overall, a total of 3.5 million tourists stayed on the island. Some guests stayed on the cruise ships, and others on the island. A significant increase was shown in both types. The combined effect demonstrated a dramatic increase in visitors.

The visitors staying on the cruise ships were approximately 0.3 million, but in 2011, it moderately increased to 0.5 million, while in 2012, it fell to 0.3 million again. In 2013, it reached 0.5 million tourists, then showed an upward trend until 2017, peaking at 2 million visitors.

The guests staying on the island, in 2010, numbered nearly 0.7 million and remained the same until 2011. After that, it showed a subsequent increase until 2015 and reached 1.5 million tourists, while in 2016, it dropped to 1.3 million, and in the last year, it again climbed to 1.5 million.

The total lines showed that the trend fluctuated during these 7 years. It started from 1 billion and touched 3.5 billion. Hence , the number of visitors to the Caribbean island peaked during these years.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have successfully identified the main features of the graph, including the trends for both cruise ship and island visitors. You provided a clear overview and supported your points with data from the graph. However, there is a significant issue with your data interpretation: you refer to 'millions' in the introduction but then switch to 'billions' in the conclusion. The graph clearly uses millions. Additionally, the initial figure of 1 billion in the conclusion is factually incorrect based on the provided data. To reach a higher band, ensure that your data reporting is consistent and accurate throughout the entire response, as these inaccuracies undermine the reliability of your summary.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each category, and a concluding summary. You use some cohesive devices such as 'while', 'after that', and 'in the last year' to link ideas. However, the progression is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel repetitive. The paragraphing is appropriate, which helps the reader follow the structure of your report. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that the relationship between sentences is more fluid, rather than relying on simple chronological markers.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the main trends, using terms like 'upward trend', 'peaking', 'moderately increased', and 'fluctuated'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'The total lines showed' and the confusion between 'millions' and 'billions'. These errors are noticeable and affect the precision of your report. To achieve a higher band, focus on using more precise terminology for describing trends and ensure that your units of measurement are consistent and accurate throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'The graph illustrates the duration of 7 years' (which is slightly awkward phrasing) and 'The guests staying on the island, in 2010, numbered nearly 0.7 million and remained the same until 2011' (which is a bit clunky). Punctuation is generally acceptable, though there is an unnecessary space before the comma in 'Hence ,'. The errors present do not impede communication, but they do prevent the writing from being considered highly accurate.

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