Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-11
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 multiline graph illustrates the information about the number of jobs in four different sectors of the economy in the US. The data has been collected within a time frame of 1960 to 2020.
The four main jobs on which the data has been collected are - manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and health care. Overall, the most popular jobs have been secured at manufacturing till the year 2000. The least popular job has been recorded in health care from 1980 to 2020.
In 1960, health care was the least popular job, which then spiked consistently till 2020 making it the most popular job of 2020 along with jobs in retail. However, jobs in agriculture declined in the year of 1960 and became stagnant from 1980 till 2020. Moreover, jobs in retail have shown a significant growth since 1960.
Altogether, this graph shows that how the jobs in manufacturing was at peak in 1980 and started declining and intersected with retail and agriculture. Going further in 2020, the two most popular jobs are retail and agriculture, followed by manufacturing, and the least popular has been recorded by agriculture.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
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 instance, you state that agriculture became 'stagnant' from 1980 to 2020, yet the graph shows a clear downward trend. Furthermore, your summary of the 2020 data is contradictory; you claim retail and agriculture are the most popular, then immediately state the least popular is agriculture. These errors in reporting data mean the task is not fully addressed, as the information provided is factually inconsistent with the visual evidence.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear attempt to use cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Moreover', and 'Altogether'. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes hindered by the factual inaccuracies mentioned in the task achievement section. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly in the final paragraph where the summary of the 2020 data becomes confusing due to the contradictory statements. The use of cohesive devices is generally functional but lacks the sophistication required for higher bands.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'illustrates', 'time frame', 'stagnant', and 'intersected'. However, there are some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'jobs... have been secured at manufacturing' and 'the most popular jobs have been recorded in health care'. These choices are slightly unnatural. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the general meaning, it lacks the precision and flexibility needed for a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'In 1960, health care was the least popular job, which then spiked consistently...'. While many sentences are clear, there are several grammatical errors, including 'this graph shows that how the jobs in manufacturing was at peak' (incorrect clause structure and subject-verb agreement) and 'the jobs in manufacturing was' (should be plural). These errors occur frequently but do not generally impede communication. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and avoiding redundant words like 'that how'.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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