Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

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

Overall, the manufacturing sectors has the highest number of jobs while on the other hand, agriculture sector have the lowest number of jobs in end of the time period. The fastest growing sector is the healthcare.

Manufacturing sector have the highest number of jobs 20 million in 1980, and then decreases throughout less then 15 milllion over the time while the retail sector was growing rapidly and cross the manufacturing sector and have more than 15 million jobs at the end of the time period.

Now, the agricullture sector have the same number of jobs at the starting and then decreasing throughout the

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the main sectors and make relevant comparisons, including manufacturing’s peak of 20 million in 1980 and the rise of retail. However, the overview is inaccurate: manufacturing did not have the highest number throughout the period, since healthcare and retail both reached about 16 million by 2020, above manufacturing’s 13 million. The response also ends mid-sentence while discussing agriculture and omits key healthcare figures and trends, so the main features are only partially reported. The response contains 118 words, below the required 150; this limits the detail available to summarise the graph. To improve, complete the account and accurately compare the sectors at the beginning and end.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is a basic paragraph structure: an introduction, an overview and a paragraph with some sector details. The sequence from general summary to specific figures is understandable, and “and then” and “while” help connect comparisons. However, progression is limited because the final paragraph stops at “decreasing throughout the,” leaving the agriculture point unfinished and the report without a conclusion to its data description. Some linking is also awkward or repetitive, such as “Overall” followed by “on the other hand” within the same overview. Organise the body into complete comparisons, group related trends together, and use linking expressions only where they clarify the relationship between facts.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing graphs, including “highest number,” “fastest growing,” “decreases,” and “growing rapidly,” and the sector names make the subject clear. However, the range is limited and several word-choice, collocation and spelling problems reduce precision: “information of the economy” is unnatural, “cross” should be expressed as “overtook,” and “milllion” and “agricullture” are misspelled. “Throughout” is also used without a clear endpoint or complete description. Aim for accurate trend language and check spelling carefully. Phrases such as “employment in the four sectors,” “rose steadily,” and “fell to” would help you describe the data more precisely without relying on repeated general wording.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and joined sentences, for example, “Manufacturing sector have the highest number … and then decreases,” and use a subordinate comparison with “while.” However, errors in agreement and sentence construction are frequent: “the manufacturing sectors has” and “agriculture sector have” do not match their subjects, while “and then decreases” shifts awkwardly from the past-tense description. Articles and sentence boundaries also need attention, as in “in end of the time period.” The final sentence is incomplete, which makes the intended meaning difficult to follow. Practise forming complete past-tense sentences with consistent subject–verb agreement, and proofread each sentence for a clear subject, verb and ending.

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