Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The given graph illustrated number of job contributed in four sectors of the economy in the US in 1960 to 2020.

Overall, healthcare consistently recorded the highest economy while agriculture, dropped by the end of the timeframe.

In 1960, work opportunities in healthcare dramatically increased than any other section given in the graph from 3 millions to 16 millions by 2020. Likewise, retail rose peaked at 2000 by 15 millions moreover, steadily increased by 1 millions in 2020.

In addition, manufacturing the various products increased in [redacted phone] marked upto 20 millions, highest jobs than any other sectors however, economy fall over the time period counted 13 millions in 2020. Similarly, agriculture dropped over the given timeframe from 5 millions to approximately 3 millions while in 1980 to 2000 the economy in agriculture remained stable accounted 4 millions. However, declined steadily in 2020 marked 3 millions as a economy of US.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers all four sectors and identifies the main trends. However, the overview is slightly inaccurate, as it refers to 'healthcare' having the 'highest economy' rather than the highest number of jobs. Additionally, there are some inaccuracies in reporting the data; for example, stating that manufacturing reached 20 million in 1980 is not clearly supported by the graph, and the description of retail's peak is confusing. While the main features are selected, the lack of precision in data reporting and the misinterpretation of the graph's subject (economy vs. jobs) limits the effectiveness of the summary.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as the use of 'moreover' and 'however' in ways that do not logically connect the ideas. The progression of information is sometimes disjointed, particularly in the second paragraph where the transition between sectors feels abrupt. While there is an overall attempt at a logical flow, the lack of sophisticated linking words and occasional confusion in referencing makes the cohesion feel somewhat strained.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There is a repetitive use of the word 'economy' when referring to job numbers, which is a significant collocation error. Phrases like 'marked upto' and 'counted 13 millions' are unnatural and indicate a limited range of vocabulary for describing trends. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of variety and the misuse of terminology regarding economic data prevent a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Issues include incorrect verb tenses ('illustrated' instead of 'illustrates'), missing articles ('the' before 'number'), and awkward phrasing such as 'healthcare dramatically increased than any other section'. Subject-verb agreement is also inconsistent. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to suggest a lack of control over complex structures, keeping the score in the mid-range.

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

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