Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-12

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 number of tourists, measured in millions, who visited a particular Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017. It distinguishes between visitors who stayed on the island and those who stayed on cruise ships, as well as showing the overall number of tourists.

Overall the island experienced substanial growth in tourism over the epriod, with the total number of visitors rising fromm 1 million to approximately 3.5 million. Although the number of tourists staying on the island increased initially then remained relatively stable, cruise ship visitors showed a much sronger upward trend, paticularly during the latter half of the period.

In 2010, around 0.75 million stayed on the island, compared with only 0.25 million who stayed on cruise ships. The number of island-based tourists remained untouched in 2011 before climbing to about 1.25 million in 2012 and 1.5 million in 2013. It 2016, the figured dipped slightly.

By contrast, the number of cruise-ships tourists fluctuated considerably at first. It rose from 0.25 million in 2010 to 0.5 million in 2011, fell back to about 0.25 million in 2012, and returned to 0.5 million in 2013. By 2017, cruise ship visitors had reached approximately 2 million, making this category the principle contributor to the island's overall growth.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully covers all parts of the task by reporting the main features and making relevant comparisons. You provide a clear overview in the second paragraph, noting the overall growth from 1 million to approximately 3.5 million, and distinguish between island-based tourists and cruise ship visitors. Key data points are selected well, such as the initial figures in 2010 and the final figures in 2017. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in your reporting of specific details, such as stating the number of island-based tourists 'remained untouched' (likely a typo for unchanged) in 2011 when the graph shows a slight decrease or flat trend, and missing the final data point for island tourists in 2017. Overall, the task is well addressed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

Your response demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Information and ideas are structured well, beginning with an introduction and a clear overview paragraph, followed by detailed body paragraphs that separate the categories logically. Paragraphing is used appropriately to group related information. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well, such as 'Overall', 'Although', and 'By contrast'. However, referencing and cohesion can occasionally feel slightly mechanical, and there are some minor mechanical issues like 'It 2016' instead of 'In 2016'. Nevertheless, the overall arrangement is coherent and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision, using terms like 'distinguishes', 'substanial' (spelling error for substantial), 'fluctuated considerably', and 'principle contributor' (should be principal). There are a few noticeable spelling and typographical errors, such as 'substanial', 'epriod', 'rising fromm', and 'sronger'. Despite these slips, your vocabulary is adequate to convey the trends and comparisons effectively without impeding communication, showing an attempt to use less common items with general awareness of style and collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms effectively, such as 'The line graph illustrates the number of tourists... who visited...' and 'Although the number of tourists staying on the island increased initially then remained relatively stable...'. There is good control over sentence structures, but a number of grammatical and typographical errors persist, including 'substanial', 'epriod', 'rising fromm', 'sronger', 'paticularly', 'remained untouched' (inappropriate collocation), and 'It 2016, the figured dipped' (incorrect preposition and spelling). While these errors do not impede communication, their frequency prevents the grammar score from reaching a higher band.

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