Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-30

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 provides information about the number of visitors to a Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017.

Overall, the total number of visitors increased significantly over the period. Although the number of people who chose to stay on the island fluctuated initially, it eventually increased considerably. Meanwhile, the number of visitors staying on cruise ships also rose overall, despite some fluctuations.

In 2010, the total number of visitors to the Caribbean island was 1 million. This figure increased gradually, reaching 2.5 million in 2014 and 2.7 million in 2015. It remained at around the same level in 2016 before rising sharply to 3.5 million in 2017, an increase of approximately 1 million in just one year.

The number of visitors staying on cruise ships was relatively low in 2010, at around 0.5 million, and remained below 1 million until 2011. It then increased significantly from 0.75 million in 2011 to 1.25 million in 2012 and 1.5 million in 2013. This figure remained stable until 2015, before falling slightly to 1.25 million in 2016. However, it recovered to 1.5 million in 2017.

In contrast, the number of visitors who stayed on the island fluctuated between 0.25 and 0.5 million from 2010 to 2013. It then increased steadily, reaching 1 million in 2014 and 1.25 million in 2015. This figure rose sharply to 1.5 million in 2016 and finally reached 2 million in 2017.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear overview and detailing the trends for both visitor categories and the total figure. The main features are identified and well-supported with figures from the chart. For instance, the total number of visitors starting at 1 million in 2010 and reaching 3.5 million in 2017 is accurately reported. However, there are some minor data misinterpretations in the body paragraphs; for example, the description of visitors staying on cruise ships versus island stays contains some confusion regarding the specific series data from the visual source. Despite these minor discrepancies, the response successfully presents a clear overall picture and addresses all requirements of the prompt, corresponding well to the Band 7 level descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is logically organised and presents a clear overall progression. Information and ideas are presented in a coherent sequence, beginning with an introduction, followed by a clear overview paragraph, and then detailed body paragraphs that break down the data effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Although', 'Meanwhile', 'In contrast', and 'However' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the data comparisons. Paragraphing is managed sufficiently, with each paragraph having a clear central topic, such as the total visitors in paragraph three and specific categories in subsequent paragraphs. This demonstrates the clear logical organisation typical of a Band 7 performance.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task, enabling some flexibility and precision. Phrases such as 'increased significantly', 'fluctuated initially', 'rose sharply', and 'remained stable' demonstrate a good awareness of vocabulary related to trend description. There are occasional inaccuracies in word choice and data matching, but these do not impede communication. Less common lexical items are attempted with reasonable success, though slightly more precise collocation and variety could elevate the response further. Overall, the lexical resource displayed comfortably meets the criteria for Band 6.5 to 7.0, and a score of 7.0 is well-justified by the functional range employed.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The writing exhibits a good variety of complex sentence structures, including subordinate clauses introduced by 'Although', 'while', and 'before'. There are frequent error-free sentences, and grammatical control is generally strong throughout the response. Punctuation is used correctly to separate clauses and structure the sentences effectively. Minor slips or inaccuracies are rare and do not interfere with the clarity of the message. The control over complex structures combined with a high proportion of error-free sentences places this response firmly in the Band 7 category for grammatical range and accuracy.

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