Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-02

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 6.5)

The Line illustrates the facts on the quantity of the jobs in four different professions of the US from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, manufacturing sector leads the graph in first four decades with a slight decrease in the next two decades while, retail and and healthcare shows a linear increase till the end an the number of jobs in agriculture are very moderate since the start.

Looking at the details, the manufacturing division started at 15 millions in 1960 with a continuous growth till 1980, and after that there is a decline in the next forty years. Initially, in 1960, retail and agriculture were on the same point, however, agriculture sector faced a severe decline in the first two decades, constant in the next two, and faced a fall again from 2000 to 2020. A constant increase can be seen by the retail and healthcare sector in all these years and by the end of the period had reached and identical figure of more than 15 million leaving behind all other divisions.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. You covered all four sectors and made relevant comparisons, such as noting that retail and healthcare reached identical figures. However, there are some inaccuracies in your data reporting; for instance, you state that manufacturing led for the first four decades, but the graph shows it peaking around 1980 and then declining, while retail and healthcare show growth throughout. To reach a higher band, ensure your data points are precise and that your summary clearly distinguishes between the different trends (e.g., growth vs. decline) without misinterpreting the timeline of the peaks.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and a body paragraph. You use some cohesive devices like 'Initially', 'however', and 'after that' to guide the reader. However, the flow is occasionally interrupted by minor mechanical errors, such as 'retail and and healthcare' and 'an the number'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the specific details. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words to connect your sentences more fluidly and ensure that your referencing is consistent throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'professions', 'linear increase', and 'moderate'. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'the Line illustrates the facts' (the graph illustrates the data) and 'identical figure' (identical levels). While your vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. Try to incorporate more specific academic collocations related to trends, such as 'a steady climb' or 'a significant downturn', to enhance the professional tone of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical slips, including article usage ('the manufacturing sector' vs 'manufacturing sector') and subject-verb agreement issues, such as 'retail and healthcare shows' (should be 'show'). Additionally, there are punctuation and typographical errors like 'retail and and'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and article consistency will significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.

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