Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The graph illustrates the proportion of jobs in four sectors in the US econmony between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, Retail and Healthcare sectors shares increased significantly over the time. While the Retail and Agriculture sectors experienced the fluctuations throughout the period.

Employment opportunities in Manufacturing was highest among all sectors in 1960, later increased to 20 millions by 1980, then continuously fell to below 20 millions in 2000 and stood at just under 15 millions by 2020.Similarly the proportion of Agriculture declined from around 6 millions to just below 5 millions jobs in 1980, while the number

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which severely impacts the task achievement score. Because the response is incomplete and cuts off mid-sentence, it fails to provide a full overview or report on all the data presented in the graph. While you attempted to identify some trends, such as the increase in Retail and Healthcare, the lack of completion means the task is only partially addressed. To improve, ensure you complete the summary of all four sectors and provide a clear, comprehensive overview that covers the entire period from 1960 to 2020.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response shows some attempt at logical organization by using an introductory sentence and an overview paragraph. However, the abrupt ending and the lack of a full structure make it difficult to assess the overall progression of ideas. Cohesive devices are minimal, and the transition between the overview and the body paragraph is not fully developed. To improve, focus on using clear linking words such as 'furthermore', 'in contrast', or 'consequently' to connect your observations and ensure that each paragraph is fully developed before moving to the next.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is generally appropriate for the task, such as 'illustrates', 'proportion', and 'fluctuations'. However, there are some inaccuracies, such as 'econmony' (spelling error) and 'shares increased' (which should be 'shares increased' or 'the share of... increased'). The range of vocabulary is limited due to the short length of the response. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise terminology related to data trends, such as 'peaked', 'remained stable', or 'experienced a downward trend'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains several grammatical errors, such as 'Retail and Healthcare sectors shares' (missing possessive or preposition) and '20 millions' (should be '20 million'). There is also a lack of complex sentence structures, which limits the assessment of your grammatical range. The sentence 'While the Retail and Agriculture sectors experienced the fluctuations throughout the period' is a fragment because it lacks a main clause. Focus on subject-verb agreement and ensure that your sentences are complete and grammatically sound.

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

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