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 information regarding the count of employment in four distinct sectors of the economy in the United States from 1960 to 2020 has been depicted by the assigned line graph.

Prima-facie, it is conspicuous that the maximum number jobs had been seen in the manufacturing sector in 1960, noted as 15 millions. After a decade, it surged rapidly and reached at a peak with 20 millions jobs but in the eventual year, it declined with around 13 millions. In stark contrast, the minimum figure for jobs had been witnessed in the healthcare sector, recorded as approximately 3 millions in 1960 after that it inclined sharply and stood at above 15 millions in 2020.

Moving further, in the beginning period, retail and agriculture jobs were remained same, both accounted as about 6 millions. It is interesting to note that after 1960 agriculture jobs were dropped continuously with 2 millions in the final year.

Overall, the jobs of healthcare and retail sectors were inclined over the given time period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all four sectors and identifies key trends. However, the overview is quite brief and lacks a clear synthesis of the most significant trends. While the data is generally accurate, some descriptions are slightly imprecise, such as stating agriculture jobs 'remained same' in the beginning when the graph shows slight variations. To reach a higher band, ensure the overview highlights the most striking differences, such as the inversion of the manufacturing and healthcare sectors, rather than just listing trends. The report is sufficient but could benefit from more detailed comparisons between sectors at specific time intervals.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized into paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a brief summary. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In stark contrast' and 'Moving further', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing could be smoother. For example, the phrase 'after that it inclined sharply' is a bit clunky. The paragraphing is appropriate, and there is a clear progression of ideas from the introduction to the final summary. Improving the variety of linking words would enhance the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with some attempts at less common items like 'conspicuous', 'prima-facie', and 'stark contrast'. However, there are some inaccuracies in collocation and word choice. For instance, 'count of employment' is unnatural; 'employment figures' or 'number of jobs' would be better. Similarly, 'inclined sharply' is not the standard way to describe a graph trend; 'increased' or 'rose' is preferred. The range is sufficient to convey meaning, but more precise terminology for data description would elevate the score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'the maximum number jobs had been seen' (missing 'of') and 'jobs were remained same' (incorrect passive voice). Additionally, 'reached at a peak' is an error; it should be 'reached a peak'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher band. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive versus active voice in data reporting.

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

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