Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The provided graph illustrates the different jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, it is clear that many jobs are located in four sectors. While manufacturing recorded the highest figures, agriculture remained the lowest throughout the period. In addition, there are many jobs in these sectors that can be observed.

Looking first at manufacturing, it increased from 1980 to 2020. Similarly, agriculture also fell, whereas healthcare remained relatively stable. As a result, jobs are very low in these sectors and have become more noticeable.

Turning to retail, it experienced a gradual increase over the period. In contrast, retail rose at the end of 2020; on the other hand, it is fell at the start of 1960. This is following a different trend. Overall, a clear difference can be seen between manufacturing's jobs and retail's jobs by the given information in the graph

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to accurately report the data presented in the graph. The overview is vague and does not highlight the key trends or significant differences between the sectors. Furthermore, the description of the data is factually confusing; for instance, stating that manufacturing increased from 1980 to 2020 while agriculture fell is not supported by a clear analysis of the provided figures. The report lacks specific data points or comparative analysis, which are essential for Task 1. The information provided is too general and fails to clearly distinguish between the four sectors, leading to a lack of clarity regarding the actual trends shown in the graph.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression of ideas is weak. While some cohesive devices are used, such as 'Looking first at' and 'In contrast', they are often used to link contradictory or confusing information. The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the flow between sentences feels disjointed. The final paragraph attempts to summarise but introduces confusing statements about retail trends that do not clearly follow from the previous points. The overall structure is present, but the internal logic is insufficient to guide the reader through the data effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'many jobs', 'recorded the highest figures', and 'remained relatively stable' are used, but there is little attempt to use more precise or academic vocabulary related to data description. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'it is fell at the start of 1960', which is grammatically incorrect and imprecise. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey basic meaning but lacks the flexibility and precision required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response relies on a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'it is fell at the start of 1960' and 'by the given information in the graph', which are awkward and incorrect. Punctuation is generally functional, but the errors in verb tense and sentence construction occasionally impede the reader's understanding. The control of grammar is inconsistent, and the errors are noticeable throughout the text, preventing it from reaching a higher band.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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