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This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay from IELTS Cambridge 15 on the topic of a line graph showing visitors to a Caribbean island.
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Writing Task 1 Tests 1-4:
Writing Task 2 Tests 1-4
IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay Cambridge 15: Owning or Renting a Home (IELTS Cambridge 15)
Dave
Before reading, listen to the audio and try to accurate draw the graph:
IELTS Writing Task 1 Sample Answer Essay IELTS Cambridge 15: Tourists Visiting a Caribbean Island
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
The line graph details the total number of tourists, as well as where they stayed, going to a given Caribbean island from 2010 to 2017. Overall, total tourists rose considerably, and those staying on cruise ships increased in particular, overtaking staying on the island itself, which underwent a more moderate increase.
Visitors residing on the island during their travels began the period at about .75 million, about 500,000 above those on cruise ships. From there, the numbers for the former climbed quickly to 1.5 million by 2013, a full million higher than the latter at the same time. Then those on the island were relatively steady until the end of the time surveyed, while cruise ship passengers rose steadily, surpassing the former figure midway through 2015 and reaching a peak in 2017 of 2 million.
The progressive patterns for visitors on cruise ships and the island were reflected in substantial gains for overall visitors, which started at 1 million in 2010, grew consistently to 2.7 million in 2015 before plateauing through 2016 and then increasing sharply to 3.5 million by the end of the period.
Analysis
1. The line graph details the total number of tourists, as well as where they stayed, going to a given Caribbean island from 2010 to 2017. 2. Overall, total tourists rose considerably, and those staying on cruise ships increased in particular, overtaking staying on the island itself, which underwent a more moderate increase.
- Paraphrase what the line chart shows.
- Write a general overview that describes the trend for all areas. Read more about overviews here.
1. Visitors residing on the island during their travels began the period at about .75 million, about 500,000 above those on cruise ships. 2. From there, the numbers for the former climbed quickly to 1.5 million by 2013, a full million higher than the latter at the same time. 3. Then those on the island were relatively steady until the end of the time surveyed, while cruise ship passengers rose steadily, surpassing the former figure midway through 2015 and reaching a peak in 2017 of 2 million.
- Begin to describe the data. Always compare.
- You don’t need all the data but focus on important changes/growth/falls.
- Follow both to the end of the period, comparing them throughout.
1. The progressive patterns for visitors on cruise ships and the island were reflected in substantial gains for overall visitors, which started at 1 million in 2010, grew consistently to 2.7 million in 2015 before plateauing through 2016 and then increasing sharply to 3.5 million by the end of the period.
- Don’t forget to write about the overall numbers as well!
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
The line graph details the total number of tourists, as well as where they stayed, going to a given Caribbean island from 2010 to 2017. Overall, total tourists rose considerably, and those staying on cruise ships increased in particular, overtaking staying on the island itself, which underwent a more moderate increase.
Visitors residing on the island during their travels began the period at about .75 million, about 500,000 above those on cruise ships. From there, the numbers for the former climbed quickly to 1.5 million by 2013, a full million higher than the latter at the same time. Then those on the island were relatively steady until the end of the time surveyed, while cruise ship passengers rose steadily, surpassing the former figure midway through 2015 and reaching a peak in 2017 of 2 million.
The progressive patterns for visitors on cruise ships and the island were reflected in substantial gains for overall visitors, which started at 1 million in 2010, grew consistently to 2.7 million in 2015 before plateauing through 2016 and then increasing sharply to 3.5 million by the end of the period.
Answers
details illustrates
as well as and
given Caribbean island some island in the Caribbean such as Jamaice or Haiti
rose considerably increased a lot
staying on cruise ships remaining on luxury liner cruises
in particular especially
overtaking surpassing
underwent a more moderate increase experienced a smaller rise
residing living on
during their travels when they were travelling
former climbed quickly mentioned before area rose fast
higher than above
the latter the last mentioned one
at the same time in the same period of time
relatively steady generally level
end of the time surveyed by the end of the period
passengers people on cruise ships
surpassing overtaking
former figure number mentioned first
midway through halfway in
reaching a peak hit a high point
progressive patterns increasing trend
reflected mirrored, replicated
substantial gains big increases
grew consistently increased a lot
plateauing levelling off
increasing sharply rising a lot
Pronunciation
Listen and repeat:
ˈdiːteɪlz
æz wɛl æz
ˈgɪvn ˌkærɪˈbiːən ˈaɪlənd
rəʊz kənˈsɪdərəbli
ˈsteɪɪŋ ɒn kruːz ʃɪps
ɪn pəˈtɪkjʊlə
ˌəʊvəˈteɪkɪŋ
ˌʌndəˈwɛnt ə mɔː ˈmɒdərɪtˈɪnkriːs
rɪˈzaɪdɪŋ
ˈdjʊərɪŋ ðeə ˈtrævlz
ˈfɔːmə klaɪmd ˈkwɪkli
ˈhaɪə ðæn
ðə ˈlætə
æt ðə seɪm taɪm
ˈrɛlətɪvli ˈstɛdi
ɛnd ɒv ðə taɪm sɜːˈveɪd
ˈpæsɪnʤəz
sɜːˈpɑːsɪŋ
ˈfɔːmə ˈfɪgə
ˈmɪdˈweɪ θruː
ˈriːʧɪŋ ə piːk
prəʊˈgrɛsɪv ˈpætənz
rɪˈflɛktɪd
səbˈstænʃəl geɪnz
gruː kənˈsɪstəntli
ˈplætəʊɪŋ
ɪnˈkriːsɪŋ ˈʃɑːpli
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
The line graph d________s the total number of tourists, a___________s where they stayed, going to a g__________________________d from 2010 to 2017. Overall, total tourists r____________________y, and those s__________________________s increased i____________________r, o__________________g staying on the island itself, which u______________________________________e.
Visitors r_____________g on the island d______________________s began the period at about .75 million, about 500,000 above those on cruise ships. From there, the numbers for the f___________________________y to 1.5 million by 2013, a full million h_____________n t_______________r a______________________e. Then those on the island were r____________________y until the e___________________________d, while cruise ship p_________________s rose steadily, s___________________g the f____________________e m__________________h 2015 and r____________________k in 2017 of 2 million.
The p______________________s for visitors on cruise ships and the island were r________________d in s___________________s for overall visitors, which started at 1 million in 2010, g_____________________y to 2.7 million in 2015 before p___________________g through 2016 and then i_____________________y to 3.5 million by the end of the period.
Listen and check:
Listening Practice
Learn about the world’s most expensive cruise ship below:
Reading Practice
Learn about Caribbean islands below in case you are planning on taking a holiday there!
Speaking Practice
Answer the following related questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Public Holidays
What public holidays do you celebrate in your country?
Which public holiday do you like the most?
What do you do during that holiday?
Do you think there should be more public holidays in your country?
IELTS Speaking Exam
Writing Practice
Answer the following related question and then check with my sample answer.
The graph below shows the percentage of people in different age groups in one city who attended music concerts between 2010 and 2015.
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Hi Dave, Your website is a wonderful learning resource. Please comment on my writing and possible band score. Do you think it is any closer to band 7? My problem is the word count which goes usually beyond 200 for task 1 and up to 350 for task 2. What should I do to limit it? Many thanks for the great work!!! The line graph compares the number of visitors to a certain Caribbean island for a 7-year period from 2010. Overall, it is apparent that the total number of tourists visiting the island increased over the years. Also, the… Read more »
Nice writing Faiza!
For the band score you can sign up here.
Your overview is great and you describe all the data. You are in the band 7+ category for sure.
The line graph below demonstrates the number of tourists that visited a certain Caribbean island in the period from 2010 till 2017. Overall, in 2010, the number of tourists spiked at 1 million visitors. That number had a steady increase till 2016 where it had experienced a noticeable increase in 2017 where the number of visitors reached 3.5 million which the highest the island had ever witnessed. On one hand, almost three quarters of a million visitors stayed on cruise ships in 2010, the same number occurred in 2011. By 2012, the number has increased to reach 1.25 million and… Read more »
Good attempt, Mohanad!
The overview has specific detail in it so that will not count as an overview and limit your score to band 5 for task achievement.
Also, some of your vocabulary is too informal.
Hello, i would absolutely appreciate if you could evaluate my summary, i would love to know if my grade is decent or do i need to practice more. Thank you Dave
It’s always good to get in more practice! What score are you aiming for?
Hi Dave, hope you are doing well. Thank you for this wonderful sample. My sample is below. Were do you think I should improve and what would be the possible band score for this answer? The line graph illustrates the amount of visitors in millions received by a particular Caribbean island, further categorized into visitors staying on the island, staying on cruise ship and the total figure from the year 2010 to the year 2017. From an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the amount of visitors increased throughout the years on all three categories. Among them, most visitors… Read more »
Good overview, Sasha!
Work on articles, subordinate clauses and prepositions!
Hello Everyone,
Could you clarify this sentence:
‘the numbers for the former climbed quickly to 1.5 million by 2013’ – as we have by 2013, should not we use Past Perfect (had climbed)?
Both are acceptable there.
Past simple for a finished event in the past – or past perfect for an event before another in the past.