Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-10

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 6.0)

The line graph illustrates information about the proportion of jobs in four different sectors (Manufacturing, Retail, Agriculture, Healthcare) in the United States from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, what stands out from the graph is there were considerable upward trends in the jobs of both Healthcare and Retail, while the jobs of Agriculture saw a fall over the period. Another interesting point is that Manufacturing was the most popular job in 1980, but in 2020, Healthcare and Retail earned more jobs than the others.

Looking at the details, Healthcare started at around 2 million in 1960, then it rose until over 15 million in end of the period. Moreover, Retail almost has a same figure as Healthcare but It started from over 5 million.

By contrast, the jobs of Agriculture went in the opposite direction. It begun with the same number as Retail, but it decreased into around 3 million in 1980. It remained stable from 1980 to 2000. If we look at Manufacturing, It went up from 15 million to 20 million from 1960 to 1980, but it declined sharply from 20 million to around 12 million from 1980 to 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. You covered all four sectors and made relevant comparisons, such as noting that Manufacturing was the most popular in 1980 before declining. However, the response could be improved by being more precise with the data. For example, you state that Retail 'almost has a same figure as Healthcare', but the graph shows distinct differences in their trajectories. Additionally, ensure that you clearly distinguish between 'proportion' (which you used in the introduction) and 'number of jobs' (which is the actual unit of measurement). Overall, the key features are well-selected and the summary is effective.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Looking at the details', 'By contrast', and 'Moreover' to guide the reader through the information. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing, such as 'It begun' and 'It went up', where the subject pronoun could be more clearly linked to the specific sector. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different trends, which helps the reader follow the progression of your analysis.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'upward trends', 'remained stable', and 'declined sharply'. There are some instances of slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'earned more jobs' instead of 'accounted for more jobs' or 'had a higher number of jobs'. Additionally, there are minor errors in word choice, such as 'in end of the period' (should be 'at the end of the period'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors throughout the text. For example, 'It begun' should be 'It began', 'almost has a same figure' should be 'had almost the same figure', and 'in end of the period' is missing an article. There are also some issues with capitalization (e.g., 'It went up') and tense consistency. These errors do not impede communication, but they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and article usage would significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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