Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-18

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 number of tourists who visited a Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017.

Overall, the total number of visitors showed an upward trend from 2010 to 2017. The number of tourists staying on the island fluctuated, while the figure for visitors staying on cruise ships increased considerably.

Initially, around 0.7 million visitors stayed on the island in 2010, and this figure remained unchanged until 2011. After that, it increased to approximately 1.5 million and remained stable from 2013 to 2015. Following this, the figure fell by around 1 million before rising again to 1.5 million in 2017.

The number of visitors staying on cruise ships followed a different pattern. It started at approximately 0.2 million in 2010 and fell to zero in 2012. From that point onwards, the figure increased steadily, reaching around 2 million in 2017.

Finally, the total number of visitors increased from 1 million in 2010 to approximately 3.5 million in 2017, reaching its highest point at the end of the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student successfully covers all parts of the task by reporting the main features and making relevant comparisons between the two categories of tourists and the total. An overview is provided, highlighting the general upward trend and the different patterns of the two groups. However, there are a few notable data inaccuracies when compared against the visual data. For instance, the student states that the number of visitors staying on cruise ships fell to zero in 2012, whereas the chart shows it at 0.25 million. Similarly, the initial figure for island-staying tourists in 2010 is stated as around 0.7 million, and the drop described in the final years does not precisely match the data progression. Despite these inaccuracies, the response successfully addresses the core prompt requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organised with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introductory sentence, followed by an overview paragraph, and subsequently breaks down the specific data into well-defined body paragraphs. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two visitor categories. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Initially', 'After that', and 'Following this' are employed effectively to guide the reader through the data, although occasional transitions feel slightly formulaic. Overall, the logical structure and clear referencing contribute to a coherent piece of writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for an academic task, employing functional verbs and adjectives such as 'fluctuated', 'increased considerably', 'remained stable', and 'steady'. While the lexical resource is generally sufficient to communicate the trends, there are some inaccuracies in precision (e.g., stating that cruise ship visitors fell to zero when the chart indicates 0.25 million). Less common vocabulary is attempted with reasonable success, but overall phrasing remains somewhat standard rather than sophisticated.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms effectively, such as 'The line graph illustrates the number of tourists who visited...' and 'After that, it increased to approximately 1.5 million and remained stable from 2013 to 2015.' Grammatical control is generally good, and punctuation is handled correctly throughout the text. There are very few grammatical errors, and sentence structures are varied enough to ensure clear communication without impeding the reader's understanding.

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