Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-10

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The graph below gives information about the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US, 1960-2020

Student answer (Band 4.0)

The chart illustrates the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 to 2020.

In 1960, the healthcare sector is at 5 million and retail sector is just above them 5.1 million. On the other hand manufacturing is at the higest rate in 1960 at 15 million also the rate of agriculture is least from all sectors in 1960 at 3 million. In 1980 healthcare is rise slowly between 5 million to

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response identifies the chart’s subject and makes a relevant comparison for 1960, noting manufacturing at 15 million and describing it as the highest sector. However, several figures are inaccurate: healthcare was about 2 million, not 5 million, and agriculture was about 6 million, not 3 million; retail was also about 6 million rather than 5.1 million. The response stops partway through the 1980 description and gives no overview of the main trends, such as the growth in retail and healthcare or the decline in agriculture. It is substantially incomplete and contains only 63 words, below the required 150, so the task is addressed only minimally.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 3.5

There is a basic chronological sequence: the response begins with 1960 and then moves to 1980, and the opening sentence establishes the topic. The phrase “On the other hand” signals a contrast between sectors. However, the response ends mid-sentence (“between 5 million to”), so there is no completed progression through the years or concluding overview. Connections between details are also unclear in phrases such as “retail sector is just above them,” where the reference is difficult to follow. To improve, organise the report into a brief introduction, an overview of the main trends, and paragraphs comparing the figures across the period, using clear references and transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses some relevant chart vocabulary, including “sector,” “rate,” and “million,” and attempts to compare categories with “highest” and “least.” This gives it enough basic language to communicate the topic, but the range is limited and some choices are imprecise or unnatural. For example, “the rate of agriculture” is not the clearest way to describe employment figures; “the number of agricultural jobs” would be more accurate. “Just above them” is also vague when comparing retail with healthcare. There is a spelling error in “higest.” Use precise terms such as “employment,” “rose,” “declined,” and “remained stable” to describe the chart’s trends.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts both simple statements and a longer sentence beginning “On the other hand,” but grammatical control is uneven. The opening uses the incorrect time construction “between 1960 to 2020”; use “between 1960 and 2020” or “from 1960 to 2020.” In “the healthcare sector is at 5 million,” the present tense is unsuitable for describing historical data, and “healthcare is rise slowly” shows an incorrect verb form. Articles are also missing in “and retail sector.” The final clause, “between 5 million to,” is incomplete and leaves the sentence unfinished. Practise past-tense reporting and complete sentence structures, while checking articles and prepositions.

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