Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-04
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 line graph illustrates the information about the number of employment opportunities in four economic sectors in the US from 1960 to 2020.
Overall, the number of retail and healthcare jobs increased throughout the period. In contrast, the number of jobs in manufacturing and agriculture sectors showed a dramatic decrease specially after 1980.
In 1960, the employment opportunities in manufacturing sectors grew slightly from 15 million to 20 million, this figure then plummeted significantly to around 17 million by the end of the period. Similarly, the number of jobs in agriculture sectors showed a constant decline over the period started from almost 6 million to approximately 2 million in 2020.
Additionally, the number of jobs in retail sectors rose drastically throughout the period. This figure grew to 10 million in 1980 before climbing to approximately 16 million at the terminal. Furthermore, the number of jobs in healthcare sectors showed the same trend as retail sectors. The figure started from almost 2 million in 1960 and surged over the period to reach around 16 million by the end.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all key features of the graph, including the overall trends and specific data points for the four sectors. You successfully identified the contrasting trends between the declining sectors (manufacturing and agriculture) and the growing ones (retail and healthcare). The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the main developments. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are accurate; for instance, your description of manufacturing in 1960 as growing from 15 to 20 million is not supported by the graph, which shows a decline from 1960 onwards. Precision in data reporting is essential for a high score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on the declining and growing sectors respectively. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Similarly', and 'Additionally' are used effectively to guide the reader through the information. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different trends. The progression of ideas is clear, and the referencing is generally consistent throughout the text. The structure is sound and supports the overall purpose of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the trends, using terms like 'plummeted', 'surged', and 'drastically'. There are some minor inaccuracies in collocation and word choice, such as 'at the terminal' (which is not standard usage for 'at the end of the period') and 'specially' instead of 'especially'. While the vocabulary is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication, incorporating more precise academic collocations would elevate the response. The range is sufficient to show flexibility, but precision could be improved.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While there are some grammatical errors, such as the comma splice in the third paragraph ('...20 million, this figure then...'), the meaning remains clear throughout. You show good control over verb tenses, consistently using the past tense to describe the historical data. To improve, focus on avoiding comma splices by using conjunctions or semicolons, and ensure subject-verb agreement is consistent. The majority of your sentences are clear and error-free, which is a positive feature.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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