Academic Writing Task 1 · line graph

Tourist visitor numbers to a Caribbean island from 2010 to 2017

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

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

Number of tourists visiting a Caribbean island (2010-2017) (millions of visitors)

Total
Visitors staying on island
Visitors staying on cruise ships

View the data

	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
Total	1	1.25	1.5	2	2.5	2.75	2.75	3.5
Visitors staying on island	0.75	0.75	1.25	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.25	1.5
Visitors staying on cruise ships	0.25	0.5	0.25	0.5	1	1.25	1.5	2

Chart redrawn by BandLadder from the data in the original IELTS practice task. Many IELTS practice tasks come from the Cambridge IELTS series (Cambridge University Press & Assessment); all rights in the original tasks remain with their owners.

Band 8 sample answer

The line graph illustrates the number of tourists visiting a Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017, categorised by their accommodation type.

Overall, the total number of visitors increased substantially from 1 million to 3.5 million over the seven-year period. While both categories of tourists saw growth, visitors staying on cruise ships experienced a more consistent upward trajectory, eventually overtaking those staying on the island.

In 2010, the total number of visitors stood at 1 million, with 0.75 million staying on the island and 0.25 million on cruise ships. By 2013, the total had doubled to 2 million. During this initial period, island-staying tourists were the majority, peaking at 1.5 million in 2013, a figure that remained stable until 2015 before fluctuating and ending at 1.5 million in 2017.

Conversely, the number of cruise ship visitors showed a more volatile start, dropping to 0.25 million in 2012 before climbing steadily. From 2013 onwards, this group grew rapidly, reaching 2 million by 2017. Consequently, cruise ship visitors surpassed island-staying tourists in 2016 and became the primary contributor to the total visitor count by the end of the period.

186 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

How to write about line graphs

Overview first: the overall direction of each line and which was highest.
Group lines that move together instead of describing each one in turn.
Give the start and end figures plus the peak or low point, not every value.

upward trajectory: a path or line showing a continuous increase
overtaking: becoming greater in number than another group
fluctuating: rising and falling irregularly in number or amount
conversely: used to introduce a contrasting or opposite idea
surpassed: exceeded the amount or level of another thing
primary contributor: the main factor or group causing a result

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The total number of visitors to the island experienced a significant upward trend over the period, with cruise ship visitors becoming the dominant group by 2017.

How long should an IELTS Task 1 answer be?

At least 150 words; 170 to 200 is the safe range. Spend about 20 minutes on it and leave 40 for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.

How do I describe line graphs?

Overview first: the overall direction of each line and which was highest. Group lines that move together instead of describing each one in turn. Give the start and end figures plus the peak or low point, not every value.