Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-15

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 graph presents data about the numbers of professions in four sectors of the economy in the US from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, it is evident that manufacturing had the highest job market of the economy in the US. While retail and healthcare increased consistently, agriculture decreased over the given period.

Manufacturing had 15 million jobs in 1960, which was the highest in the economy of the US, which increased significantly to 20 million jobs in 1980 before falling to about 13 million jobs in 2020. In contrast, agriculture fell slightly from about 6 million jobs in 1960 to almost 3 million jobs in 1980 then it stable up to the end of the period.

By comparison, retail also started from just over 5 million jobs, rose consistently to over 15 million jobs by the last year of the period. Similarly, healthcare increased steadily from about 2 million jobs in the beginning of the period to the same level of retail (above 15 million jobs).

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all four sectors and identifies key trends such as the rise of retail and healthcare and the decline of agriculture. However, the overview is slightly inaccurate; stating that manufacturing had the 'highest job market' throughout the period is misleading, as retail and healthcare surpassed it by the end. The summary of the manufacturing trend is also slightly oversimplified. To reach a higher band, ensure the overview captures the most significant shifts (e.g., the crossover points) rather than just stating the highest point, and ensure data points are described with greater precision.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is clear, moving from general trends to specific sector comparisons. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'By comparison', and 'Similarly' are used effectively to link ideas. However, the paragraphing could be improved by grouping the declining sectors (manufacturing and agriculture) and the growing sectors (retail and healthcare) more distinctly to enhance the flow. Referencing is generally clear, though some transitions feel slightly mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'consistently', 'significantly', and 'steadily' to describe trends. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'highest job market of the economy' (which is slightly unnatural) and 'it stable' (which should be 'it remained stable'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. Incorporating more varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' would strengthen this criterion.

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 'numbers of professions' (should be 'number of jobs'), 'it stable' (missing verb), and 'in the beginning of the period' (should be 'at the beginning'). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions when describing time periods and data trends.

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

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