Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-12

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 illustrates the number of jobs in four economy sectors in the US between 1960 and 2020.There are two basic trends upward and downward.Firstly, the number of jobs in Retail rose gradually from 5 mililons to almost 18 millions between 60 years.secondly, the number of job in agriculture fell steadily from 5 mollions to just under 2 millions.

In 1960to 1980,the number of jobs in Manufacturing rose gradually but in other 40 years the number of jobs rose sharply. The number of jobs in health care increase gradually and then climbed sharply.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the four sectors and report several broad trends, including retail and healthcare rising and agriculture declining. However, the account is very incomplete: it gives no clear overview of the main comparisons, and the manufacturing description is inaccurate. Manufacturing rose from about 15 million to 20 million by 1980, then fell to around 13 million; it did not continue to rise sharply. Retail reached about 16 million, not almost 18 million, while healthcare rose to roughly 16 million. The response also falls short of the required 150 words, leaving important stages and comparisons unexplained. To improve, add a concise overview and accurately compare the sectors’ starting points, peaks and final figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: an opening identifies the graph, followed by trend statements, and words such as “Firstly” and “secondly” signal sequence. However, the progression is difficult to follow because the information is compressed into two paragraphs and the final paragraph combines several trends without clear comparisons. The phrase “There are two basic trends upward and downward” does not establish how the report will be organised, and “in other 40 years” leaves the time reference unclear. Use a separate overview after the introduction, then group related sectors into body paragraphs. Connect each figure to its time period so the reader can follow changes without having to infer them.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses relevant basic vocabulary, including “rose,” “fell steadily,” “gradually” and “climbed sharply,” so the main direction of change is usually understandable. However, the range is limited and some choices are inaccurate or awkward, such as “two basic trends upward and downward” and “between 60 years.” There are also noticeable spelling and form errors in “mililons” and “mollions,” which reduce precision. Use standard chart language and vary it carefully—for example, “increased,” “declined,” “peaked at” and “ended at.” Check that units are expressed naturally as “million jobs,” and choose wording that distinguishes a gradual rise from a sharp increase.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences, and the basic meaning of several trends can be understood. However, the range is limited, and errors in sentence boundaries, verb forms and time expressions occur frequently enough to make parts difficult to read. For example, “between 1960 and 2020.There” needs a space and clearer punctuation, while “the number of jobs in health care increase” requires past-tense agreement (“increased”). The construction “In 1960to 1980” is also incomplete and incorrectly formed. Practise writing complete sentences with accurate past-tense verbs, and use clear time phrases such as “From 1960 to 1980.” Proofread punctuation and spacing before submitting.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.