Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-13

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 5.5)

this line chart illustrated the number of jobs in different sector of the economy in usa between 1960 and 2020.

overall,it is clear that manufacturing rate had increased and the agriculture and the and healthcare had decreased.the other retail had slightly increased from time to time.

in 1960,the the manufacturing rate had increased 15 million as compared to the 6 million work in retail and the 5 million in the agriculture other remaining 2 million in the healthcare program.in the 1980 the manufacturing had dramatically, increased from 20 million while retail increased 10 million and healthcare is about 5 million.in contrast,the agriculture job dropped sharply below 3 million.

in 2000 the manufacturing of job is slightly decreased about 13 million and and the retail is increaed about 15 million;healthcare should also increaed about 12 million.in contrast the agriculture is stood at same 3 million.in 2020 the manufacturing is dramatically,decreased about 13 million while the retail is slightly increased about 16 million as compared healthcare is big increased around 16 million.while the agriculture is decreaed around 2 million.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the four sectors and report several relevant figures across the period, including manufacturing at 15 million in 1960 and retail and healthcare at about 16 million in 2020. However, the overview contains a major trend error: it says healthcare decreased, whereas healthcare rose substantially from 2 to 16 million. Manufacturing also did not increase overall; it peaked in 1980 and then declined to 13 million. Some details are inaccurate or unclear, such as saying manufacturing was 13 million in 2000 rather than about 17 million, and describing its 1980 figure as having “increased from 20 million.” The response therefore covers the chart only partially, with key trends and comparisons needing clearer, more accurate reporting.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs moving through the years from 1960 to 2020. This chronological order helps the reader follow the data, and phrases such as “in contrast” signal comparisons. However, the overview does not provide a reliable guide to the body because it misstates the healthcare trend. Some linking is mechanical or awkward, and repeated “in contrast” does not always introduce a clear contrast. Several sentences run together, particularly the 2020 description, making relationships between figures less clear. Grouping the sectors by their overall trends—for example, rising healthcare and retail versus declining agriculture and manufacturing after 1980—would create stronger progression and more purposeful comparisons.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “increased,” “decreased,” “dropped sharply,” and “million,” so the main subject is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several expressions are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “manufacturing rate,” “healthcare program,” and “manufacturing of job.” Repetition of “increased” and “decreased” also limits precision. Spelling and word-form errors, including “increaed” and “decreaed,” are noticeable and can distract the reader. Aim for accurate terms such as “number of jobs,” “employment,” “rose,” “fell,” and “remained stable.” More precise collocations and careful spelling would make the comparisons clearer without requiring unusually advanced vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences, and the chronological descriptions show an effort to connect information. However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently in verb forms, articles, agreement, and sentence construction. For example, “the manufacturing rate had increased 15 million” lacks a suitable verb pattern, while “the agriculture is stood at same 3 million” has incorrect verb forms and missing articles. Tense use shifts between past and present, as in “healthcare is about 5 million” alongside past-tense descriptions. Punctuation and capitalisation are also inconsistent, with several sentences joined by commas or lacking spaces after them. Practise clear past-tense reporting and shorter, correctly punctuated comparisons before attempting longer structures.

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