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 graph shows the jobs ratio of US in four sectors of the economy from the years 1960 to 2022. The manufacturing sector shows that in 1960 there were around 15 million jobs, by the year 1980 the jobs increases to 20 millions, and from 1980 to 2020, it declined to around 13 millions. In reatil sector, there was a sudden increase in the jobs from 1980 to 2000, and then from 2000 to 2020 there was a small increase in the jobs. The job ratio in agriculture sector is not so good. In 1960, there were 6 million jobs but with the years passes by it decreases to 2 millions. The job ratio in healthcare sector was good. It increased from 2 million in 1960 to around 16 million in 2022. Among all four sectors, the healthcare sector jobs increases.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify several relevant trends, including manufacturing peaking at about 20 million jobs in 1980 before falling, and agriculture declining overall. However, the response only partially covers the graph: retail figures and its overall rise are not clearly reported, and there is no concise overview comparing the main patterns. The healthcare figure is given as 2022, although the chart ends in 2020, and the final claim that healthcare jobs increased most is unclear because retail also rose substantially. The response is also 9 words below the required minimum. To improve, give an overview of the contrasting trends, report key comparisons accurately, and develop the retail and healthcare descriptions with the correct end year.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response follows a generally understandable order, moving through the four sectors, and time markers such as “in 1960” and “from 1980 to 2000” help the reader follow some changes. However, it is presented as one paragraph, with no clear overview separated from the details, so the main comparisons are difficult to identify. Several transitions are repetitive, and the retail description gives only two changes without stating its starting and ending levels. The closing sentence repeats the healthcare trend rather than summarising the graph as a whole. Use a brief overview followed by two logically grouped detail paragraphs, and connect the sectors through direct comparisons.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant topic vocabulary such as “manufacturing sector,” “agriculture sector,” and “increased,” so the basic meaning is usually clear. However, the range is limited and some choices are inaccurate or informal for describing data. “Jobs ratio” is not an appropriate term for the number of jobs, while “not so good” and “was good” express opinion rather than a measurable trend. There are also spelling errors, including “reatil,” and awkward phrases such as “with the years passes by.” Choose precise trend language and vary it appropriately—for example, describe figures as rising, falling, remaining stable, or reaching a peak.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You produce several understandable simple and compound sentences, and the sequence of past-time descriptions is generally clear. There are also attempts to use clauses with “but” and “from … to …”. However, errors in verb forms, agreement, and number occur repeatedly: “the jobs increases,” “with the years passes by it decreases,” and “the healthcare sector jobs increases.” Plural forms are also inconsistent in “20 millions” and “2 millions.” These problems do not usually prevent understanding, but they make the account less controlled. Practise consistent past-tense reporting and subject–verb agreement, and check singular/plural forms when giving quantities.

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