Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-16

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 6.0)

The graph below reveals the number of tourists in millions visiting a particular Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017.

Overall, the total number of visitors experienced the most significant growth over the period. The total number of visitors experienced hihgest growth reaching 3.5 million in 2017. The visitors staying on cruise ships and the visitors staying on island also increase but to lesser extent.

In 2010, the total number of visitors was 1 million out which 0.75 million was staying on island and 0.25 million was staying on cruise ships. In 2011 and 2012, the total number of visitors gradually climbed to 1.5 million out of which 1.25 million was staying on island and 0.25 million was staying on cruise ships.

In 2013 and 2014, the total number of visitors sharply stepped up to 2.5 million out of which 1.5 million was staying on island and 1 million was staying on crusie ships. In 2015, the total number of visitors slowly rise to 2.75 million out of which 1.5 million was staying on island and 1.25 million was staying on cruise ships.

In 2016 and 2017, the total number of visitors expanded rapidly to 3.5 million out of which 2 million was staying on cruise ships and 1.5 million was staying on island.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the overall rise in total visitors and report the final total of 3.5 million, while also comparing the two accommodation groups. Several figures are accurate, including the 2010 breakdown and the 2017 figures. However, some details are misreported: in 2011 the cruise-ship figure was 0.5 million, not 0.25 million, and the total in 2013 was 2 million, not 2.5 million; 2.5 million was reached in 2014. The overview also repeats that the total had the “highest growth” without clearly summarising the contrasting patterns: island stays levelled off around 1.5 million, whereas cruise-ship visitors rose markedly. More precise selection and reporting of these key trends would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and chronological paragraphs describing the data. This makes the information easy to follow, and phrases such as “In 2010” and “In 2015” help signal changes over time. However, the repeated “out of which” construction makes the account mechanical, and grouping 2013 with 2014 obscures the distinct totals for those years. The overview also repeats the idea of growth rather than setting out the main contrast between the two visitor types. Use more varied linking and comparison, and organise the details around meaningful trends as well as chronology, to improve progression and cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of trend vocabulary, including “climbed,” “sharply stepped up,” “rise,” and “expanded rapidly,” and the topic is consistently clear. However, some choices are unnatural or imprecise: “experienced highest growth” needs an article and is not the clearest way to describe the trend, while “stepped up” and “expanded” are less natural for figures in a graph. There are also spelling errors in “hihgest” and “crusie.” Repeated use of “total number of visitors” and “out of which” limits flexibility. Choose precise collocations such as “increased,” “reached,” and “accounted for,” and proofread spelling to strengthen control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use both simple statements and longer sentences with subordinate information, for example, “In 2010, the total number of visitors was 1 million, out of which…” This shows some ability to combine information, and the main meaning is generally clear. Some grammatical errors remain, however. In the overview, “the visitors … also increase” should use the past tense, “increased,” and “to lesser extent” requires an article: “to a lesser extent.” The phrase “out which” is missing “of,” and “the total number … experienced hihgest growth” also lacks an article before the superlative. Check tense consistency and articles, and vary sentence patterns rather than relying on the same long construction.

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