Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-03

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)

The graph illustrate the number of jobs in four different sector of the economy in us from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, the manufacturing sectors have the highest number of jobs and the agriculture sector job has declined over the year. Retail and healthcare sector jobs has improved over the year.

In 1960, the manufacturing sector has around 15 million jobs whereas healthcare has the lowest job around 3 million. In addition retail and agriculture sector has the same job which is around 6 million. In 1980 the agriculture job has decline. Retail and healthcare job has increased to this year.

In 2000, manufacturing sector jobs has declined around 17 million jobs. Similarly agriculture sector job has also declined, but in 2020 retail and health care sector has taken the lead. There are around 16 million jobs in retail and health care sector in the year of 2020. The agriculture sector has the lowest job in 2020 which is around 2 million.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the graph, identifying the trends for the four sectors. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial and lacks precision in reporting data. For instance, stating 'manufacturing sector jobs has declined around 17 million' is confusing and inaccurate based on the visual data. The overview is present but could be more effectively integrated to highlight the most significant shifts, such as the crossover between sectors. While the task is addressed, the lack of clear, accurate data reporting prevents a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of information. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'In 1960', 'In 1980', 'In 2000'). There is a lack of sophisticated linking words to connect ideas within sentences or between paragraphs. While the overall arrangement is coherent, the reliance on simple transition markers limits the flow, and some referencing is slightly unclear, such as the vague mention of 'to this year'.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'number of jobs', 'sector', and 'declined' are used frequently. There is little attempt to use a wider range of vocabulary or synonyms to describe trends (e.g., 'fluctuated', 'plummeted', 'surpassed', 'remained stable'). Some word choices are imprecise, such as 'improved' to describe job growth, which is not the most appropriate term in an economic context. Spelling is generally accurate, but the range is limited.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Subject-verb agreement is a recurring issue, such as 'The graph illustrate' instead of 'illustrates', and 'manufacturing sectors have' instead of 'has'. There are also issues with pluralisation ('four different sector') and tense consistency. While the student attempts some complex structures, they are often faulty. The majority of sentences contain errors, which prevents the response from reaching a higher band. More attention to basic grammar rules and proofreading is necessary.

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