Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-06

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 provided line chart illustrates number of employees in the four sectors of US economy. The data is calibrated in percentile.

Overall it is crystal clear that the number to agriculture and healthcare workers increased over time while reverse was true for manufacturing and retail sector. However the number of workers in manufacturing sector remained consistent with higher figures.

Focusing on the increases first, retail sector starting at just about 6 million jobs in 1960 reached its peak in 2020 with more than 15 million jobs in the US. Similarly the number of workers in healthcare rose dramatically from approximately 3 million jobs in 1960 to almost 16 million in 2020.

In contrast, the number of employees in agriculture and manufacturing sector declined over the decades. The number of manufacturing jobs increased steadily from 15 million in 1960 to 20 million in 1980 but faced a decrease to reach below 15 million jobs in 2020. Also the number of agriculture sector jobs fallen from more than 5 million in 1960 to just about 3 million in the year 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the graph, but there are significant inaccuracies in data interpretation. For example, you state that the retail sector reached its peak in 2020, but the graph shows a decline after 2000. Additionally, you claim the agriculture sector increased, while the graph clearly shows a downward trend from 1960 to 2020. These factual errors mean the task is not fully addressed. While you provide an overview and some comparisons, the misreading of the data prevents a higher score. To improve, ensure you carefully cross-reference the labels and trends before writing.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organised into paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on increases and decreases. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Similarly', and 'However' are used to link ideas. However, the progression is slightly hampered by the factual inaccuracies mentioned in the task achievement section. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure is clear, making the text easy to follow despite the data errors.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'calibrated', 'consistent', 'dramatically', and 'steadily'. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'number to agriculture' (should be 'number of') and 'the data is calibrated in percentile' (the graph shows millions, not percentages). While you attempt to use a variety of descriptive language, the inaccuracies in data reporting limit the precision of your lexical choices.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'illustrates number of employees' (missing article 'the'), 'number of agriculture sector jobs fallen' (incorrect verb tense/form), and 'the number to agriculture' (incorrect preposition). While these errors are noticeable, they do not significantly impede communication. To reach a higher band, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles and prepositions.

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

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