Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-05

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 given graphical data illustrates the preference of visitors of Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017, where comparison between ships island accommodations is evident. Majority of people are choosing either cruise ships or preferring to stay on the main land for staying in hotel.

The line graph displays that number of visitors staying on cruise ships are increasing every year, reaching its peak in 2017 year at the benchmark of 2 million visitors. However, it reached its bottom in year 2012, when the number of visitors were less than half a million.

On the other hand, the trend for the island accommodation is different from the luxury ships, as the increment in number of tourists increases after 2011, reaching its peak of 1.5 million tourists. Furthermore, it shows a decrement in 2016 year, until reaching maximum limit of 1.5 million in 2017 year.

Therefore, it can be concluded that, over the years, people preferences of visitors have shifted from staying on island to cruise ships, which became the ultimate source of attraction for visitors. In addition, the total number of people visiting Caribbean island have shown a significant increment from 1 million to 3.5 million visitors in 2017 year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main features and trends of the graph, including the overall growth and the comparison between cruise ship and island accommodation visitors. You provided a clear overview and supported your points with data from the graph. However, the analysis could be improved by being more precise with the data points. For instance, you mention a 'decrement in 2016' for island accommodation, but the graph shows a more complex trend that requires clearer description. Additionally, ensure that your overview clearly synthesizes the main trends rather than just listing them. Overall, you have addressed the requirements of the task well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized into clear paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs for the two categories, and a concluding summary. You use cohesive devices such as 'However', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore' to link ideas. While the progression is generally clear, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing could be smoother. For example, the phrase 'the increment in number of tourists increases' is slightly repetitive and awkward. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear focus will help you achieve a higher band score in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your meaning, including terms like 'graphical data', 'benchmark', and 'decrement'. However, there are some issues with word choice and collocation. For example, 'at the benchmark of 2 million' is not the most natural way to express a figure, and 'people preferences of visitors' is redundant. You also struggle with word forms, such as using 'increment' as a verb or 'decrement' in a context where 'decline' or 'decrease' would be more appropriate. To improve, focus on using more precise academic collocations and ensuring word forms are used correctly in context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is a good start. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'number of visitors were' should be 'was') and awkward phrasing (e.g., '2017 year' should simply be '2017'). There are also some issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and refining your sentence structure will help you improve.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.