Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The below line graph illustrates the availability of number of job openings between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, employment under retail sector rose with approximately 6 millions jobs, and consistently increased with around 16 million jobs during 2020. However, the Agriculture become the least department to grow only around 4million jobs in 2020.

In 1960, Manufacturing become the first industry to grow significantly with 15millions of openings till 1980, with a figure of 20 millions. Agriculture and Retail expand the employment offers with around 6 millions. However,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which severely limits the ability to cover the task requirements. While you have attempted to identify some trends, the analysis is incomplete and lacks a clear overview of all four sectors. The data reporting is fragmented, and the response ends abruptly mid-sentence, failing to provide a comprehensive summary of the main features or relevant comparisons. To improve, you must ensure you describe all categories presented in the graph and provide a coherent summary that meets the length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response lacks a logical structure and progression. While there is an attempt at paragraphing, the text is incomplete and ends abruptly, which disrupts the flow of information. Cohesive devices are used sparingly and sometimes inaccurately, such as the misuse of 'However' at the end of the text. The lack of a concluding summary or a fully developed body paragraph makes the overall arrangement incoherent. To improve, focus on using clear topic sentences and linking words to connect your ideas logically throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, relying on simple terms like 'grow' and 'increase'. There are errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'availability of number of job openings' and 'least department to grow'. These errors occasionally make the meaning slightly unclear. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use a wider range of vocabulary related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', 'remained stable', or 'experienced a sharp decline', and ensure your word choices are precise and contextually appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'Agriculture become the least department' (incorrect verb tense/form) and '15millions of openings' (incorrect pluralization). Punctuation is also inconsistent. The errors are frequent enough to cause some difficulty for the reader. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct tense usage for describing past data, and ensuring that your sentences are complete and grammatically sound.

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

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