Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-14

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 6.5)

The line graph provides information regarding the number of professions in four sectors of the economy in the US from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, the manufacturing sector presented the highest number initially, surpassed by the retail and healthcare industries over the period. Notably, the number of jobs in agriculture sector remained considerably stable compared to the other sectors.

While the retail and healthcare industries demonstrated a similar upward pattern, manufacturing and agriculture showed an identical downward trend. The number of jobs in agriculture had a noticeable decline of roughly 3 million in the first two decades, reaching 3 million. Conversely, manufacturing, retail, and healthcare industries increased significantly by 5, 4, and 2 million respectively.

As for the next 20 years, the number of jobs in retail and healthcare rose by approximately 5 million, reaching 15 and 11 million respectively, while the manufacturing sector experienced a modest fall from 20 million in 1980 to 17 million in 2000. Regarding jobs in agriculture, it experienced a period of stability at 3 million in 2000, presenting a marginal decline of 1 million in 2020. Similarly, manufacturing fell significantly by approximately 3 million, reaching 14 million.

The retail and healthcare job numbers increased modestly by roughly 1 million and 5 million, both reaching the highest point of 16 million.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all parts of the task well. You have identified the main trends and provided relevant data points to support your descriptions. The overview is clear and highlights the key differences between the sectors. However, there is a slight inaccuracy in the data reporting; for instance, you mention that manufacturing and agriculture showed an identical downward trend, but the graph shows agriculture remaining relatively stable after an initial drop, while manufacturing fluctuates significantly. Additionally, some of the data points mentioned (such as the 5 million increase for retail and healthcare in the first two decades) could be more precisely aligned with the visual data. Overall, the report is well-structured and addresses the prompt effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'Conversely', 'As for', and 'Similarly' to link your points effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, overview, and the detailed body paragraphs. The flow of information is generally smooth, although the transition between the second and third body paragraphs could be slightly more refined to improve the overall coherence. Referencing is clear throughout, and the reader can easily follow the comparison between the four sectors over the specified time periods.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision. Phrases like 'considerably stable', 'marginal decline', and 'upward pattern' are used effectively. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, which adds to the academic tone of the report. While there are no significant errors in word choice that impede communication, the vocabulary is functional rather than highly sophisticated. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' to avoid repetition and demonstrate a more flexible command of lexical items.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and your control of grammar is generally good. There are occasional minor slips, such as 'Regarding jobs in agriculture, it experienced...', where the subject reference is slightly awkward. However, these errors do not impede communication. You have used a range of structures, including comparative clauses and time-based prepositional phrases, which shows a good level of grammatical competence. Punctuation is generally accurate, supporting the clarity of your writing throughout the task.

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