Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-28
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 graph illustrates the number of foreign visitors at a Caribbean island for 8years between 2010 to 2017.
Overall, the total number of foreign visitors increased throughout the period although there was a slight dip in the number towards the end of time period. However, the number of tourists staying on cruise ship also elevated through the period. Whereas, the amount of those staying on the island fluctuated through the time period.
From the graph provided, there was a steady growth in the total number of visitors to the Caribbean island, starting from about 1million people in 2010 and reaching approximately 3.5million visitors in 2017, however, there was a dip in the year 2016.
Furthermore, the number of visitors staying on cruise ship during their visit started at less than 500thousand persons in 2010, it fluctuated till 2012 and then saw a continous acceleration to around 2million tourist in 2017. Whereas, the foreign visitors residing on the island during their visits started at approximately 700 thousand in 2010, this gradually increased to about 1.5million in 2013 then remained steady till 2015. It however saw a decline to around 1.3million in 2016 and then recovered to 1.5million in the year 2017.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0
The student covers all key features of the graph, presenting the overall trends and supplying specific data points for both categories and the total number of visitors. An overview is successfully included in the second paragraph, highlighting the general upward trajectory alongside the fluctuations and dips. Data points such as the starting and ending figures (e.g., 1 million in 2010 to 3.5 million in 2017) are accurately reported. However, there is a minor contradiction regarding the total in 2016, as the student mentions a dip in the total visitors for 2016 while the graph shows the total remaining steady at 2.75 million from 2015 to 2016 (though the island component dipped). Despite this minor misreading, the task is well-addressed with relevant comparisons and a clear outline of the main features.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The response is logically organised into four paragraphs, beginning with an introduction, followed by an overall summary, and then two body paragraphs detailing specific trends. Cohesive devices are used to link ideas, such as 'Overall', 'However', 'Whereas', and 'Furthermore'. Paragraphing is logical and appropriate for an Academic Task 1 report. However, referencing is occasionally imprecise, and the progression could be smoother in places, particularly with the abrupt transition into the third paragraph ('From the graph provided...'). Overall arrangement is coherent and easy to follow.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing graphical data, utilizing terms such as 'steady growth', 'fluctuated', 'acceleration', and 'decline'. There are some awkward collocations or phrasing choices, such as 'the amount of those staying' instead of 'the number of those staying' and 'foreign visitors residing on the island' rather than 'visitors staying on the island'. Spelling is generally accurate, though minor spacing issues appear (e.g., '8years', '1million'). The lexical range allows the message to be communicated clearly, fitting the Band 6 descriptor well.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating subordinate clauses using 'although', 'whereas', and 'however'. There are several grammatical errors and punctuation slips, notably run-on sentences and comma splices, such as in the fourth paragraph: '...cruise ship during their visit started at less than 500thousand persons in 2010, it fluctuated till 2012...'. Prepositional and article choices also show minor inaccuracies. Nevertheless, these errors do not impede communication, and the meaning remains clear throughout.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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