Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-07-30

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 6.0)

The line chart provides information about the number of Occupation in 4 different sectors of the US during 1960 to 2020

Overall, retail and healthcare sectors provide high opportunities for employment in end of the period. While agriculture sector provides less jobs during the time period.

In 1960, manufacturing sectors offers 15 million employments, afterword they went up until 20 million in1980 and then it felt around 14 million in 2020. retail and healthcare sectors provide less opportunities in 1960, but it was gradually rose and reached at 16 million in 2020.

During the same time period agricultural field offers less position for work. Began from 6 million in 1960 and it steadily fell to 3 million in 1980 and 2000. Afterword it gradually decreased and reached at nearly 1 million in 2020.

During the time period, manufacturing, retail and healthcare sectors gives more financial stability, while agricultural field provides less financial stability.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response provides a summary of the main features, but it lacks precision in reporting data. For instance, the statement that retail and healthcare sectors reached 16 million is not clearly supported by the graph, and the final paragraph introduces an interpretation regarding 'financial stability' which is not present in the provided data. While the main trends are identified, the lack of accurate data reporting and the inclusion of external information (financial stability) limit the score. To improve, ensure all information is strictly derived from the graph and use more precise figures to support your descriptions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate, such as the use of 'afterword' (likely intended as 'afterwards') to start sentences. The progression of ideas is generally logical, moving from an overview to specific sector details, but the transition between the manufacturing and retail/healthcare sections could be smoother. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring they are used correctly would enhance the flow of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'provide high opportunities' and 'less opportunities' are used frequently. There are also some word choice errors, such as 'Occupation' instead of 'occupations' or 'employment numbers', and 'felt' instead of 'fell'. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use a wider range of vocabulary related to trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', 'declined', or 'remained stable', and ensure that nouns and verbs are used in their correct forms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('manufacturing sectors offers', 'retail and healthcare sectors gives') and tense inconsistencies ('it was gradually rose'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after periods (e.g., '2020.retail'). While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of these errors prevents a higher score. Focusing on basic subject-verb agreement and consistent verb tenses will significantly improve your accuracy.

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