Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-16

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 line graph illustrates the number of tourists visiting a Caribbean island from 2010 to 2017, breaking down the figures by visitors staying on the island, visitors staying on cruise ships, and the overall total.

Overview

Total tourist visits saw a significant and overall steady increase across the seven-year period. While island-bound visitors initially accounted for the majority of tourists, cruise ship passengers experienced dramatic growth from 2013 onward and ultimately became the predominant category by the end of the timeline.

Total Visitors

Started at exactly 1 million visitors in 2010 and climbed steadily over the next five years.

Plateaued at 2.75 million visitors between 2015 and 2016.

Finished with a sharp rise to hit a peak of 3.5 million visitors in 2017, representing a 2.5 million increase over the entire period.

Visitors Staying on Island

Began at 0.75 million in 2010, remaining the dominant tourist choice for several years.

Rose steadily to reach 1.5 million in 2013, where it plateaued until 2015.

Suffered a slight dip to 1.25 million in 2016 before recovering back to 1.5 million in 2017.

Visitors Staying on Cruise Ships

Commenced at a relatively low 0.25 million in 2010 and fluctuated slightly between 0.25 million and 0.5 million through 2013.

Commenced a rapid, unbroken upward trajectory after 2013, rising from 0.5 million to 1.25 million in 2015.

Overtook island-staying visitors in 2016 at 1.5 million, before climbing further to reach 2 million by 2017.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The student provides a comprehensive and accurate report of the line graph, successfully addressing all parts of the prompt. Key features and comparisons are well selected and reported, such as the overall upward trajectory of total visitors and the shifting dominance between island-bound tourists and cruise ship passengers. The overview is clear and well-positioned, capturing the main trends effectively without getting bogged down in unnecessary raw data. All figures cited, such as the 1 million starting point and the 3.5 million peak in 2017, align precisely with the provided source data. The response meets the requirements of Task 1 comprehensively and demonstrates a fully developed understanding of the visual information.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. The use of headings for each section (Total Visitors, Visitors Staying on Island, Visitors Staying on Cruise Ships) aids readability, although standard paragraphing is sometimes replaced by bulleted or list-like structures. Nevertheless, ideas flow logically from the introduction to the clear overview and subsequently into detailed categorical breakdowns. Cohesive devices are used appropriately to guide the reader through the data, and referencing is handled accurately throughout the text. Progression from 2010 to 2017 is maintained seamlessly across all reported categories.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an Academic Task 1 response. Less common lexical items and collocations are used skillfully to describe trends and changes, such as 'island-bound visitors', 'unbroken upward trajectory', 'predominant category', and 'plateaued'. Word choices are precise, and there are virtually no inaccuracies in collocation or spelling. The vocabulary allows for concise and sophisticated reporting of statistical data, elevating the quality of the response significantly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writing exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures, including participial phrases ('representing a 2.5 million increase'), complex noun phrases, and varied clause structures. The vast majority of sentences are error-free, with excellent control over punctuation and tense consistency when referring to past years. Although some sections utilize fragmented bullet-point structures rather than full prose sentences, the grammar within those clauses remains precise and accurate. Overall grammatical control is strong and supports fluent communication.

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