Tourists visiting a particular Caribbean Island between 2010 and 2017
The line graph illustrates the number of tourists visiting a Caribbean island from 2010 to 2017, distinguishing between those staying on the island and those on cruise ships.
Overall, the total number of tourists rose significantly over the period. While visitors staying on the island initially outnumbered cruise ship passengers, the latter group saw a sharper increase and eventually surpassed island-based tourists.
At the start of the period, around 0.75 million tourists stayed on the island, approximately 0.25 million more than cruise ship visitors. Numbers for island visitors climbed steadily to 1.5 million by 2013, remaining relatively stable thereafter. In contrast, cruise ship passengers rose consistently, overtaking island residents in 2015 and reaching a peak of 2 million by 2017.
These trends were reflected in the total number of tourists. Overall arrivals increased from 1 million in 2010 to 2.7 million in 2015, plateaued slightly in 2016, and then surged to 3.5 million by the end of 2017.
Here’s a professional Do’s and Don’ts table for IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 – Line Graphs:
| Do’s | Don’ts |
|---|---|
| Paraphrase the question in your introduction using your own words. | Copy the question prompt word-for-word. |
| Write a clear overview summarizing overall trends, patterns, or comparisons. | Include too many specific numbers in the overview. |
| Focus on key trends: increases, decreases, fluctuations, peaks, and plateaus. | Describe every single data point in chronological order. |
| Compare trends between categories where relevant. | Ignore comparisons or relationships between lines/categories. |
| Use data to support trends (e.g., figures, percentages, or approximations). | Present numbers inaccurately or without context. |
| Use linking phrases: “Overall,” “In contrast,” “While X… Y…,” “By comparison,” “Meanwhile.” | Start sentences mechanically with “In 2010, it was… 2011, it was…”. |
| Highlight significant changes: steep rises, falls, or consistent trends. | Mention trivial fluctuations that do not impact the overall pattern. |
| Follow a logical structure: Introduction → Overview → Key Features/Data → Conclusion (if needed). | Write in a disorganized way that jumps between years or categories. |
| Round numbers for readability if exact figures are not critical. | Overload the essay with too many decimal points or precise values. |
| Maintain formal academic style and neutral tone. | Include opinions, personal interpretations, or informal language. |