Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-16
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 line graph illustrates the number of occupation in four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020.
Overall, the occupation which has maximum number was manufacturing in between 1960 and 2000. There were fewer number of occupation in between 1980 and 2020 was agriculture.
Manufacturing remains maximum number of jobs throughtout the period and in 2020 it slightly decreases to 13 millions. It has the maximum number of occupation compared to other sectors and it reached its peak in 1980 to 20 millions which was one of the highest till 2020. Healthcare has the minimum occupation in 1960 but it rose significantly to 16 millions approximately in 2020.
In 1960, retail and agriculture has equal number of occupation but retail rose significantly high that becomes equal to healthcare in 2020 where agriculture decrease steadly to 2 millions in 2020 which becomes one of the most minimum number of occupation.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main features of the graph, identifying trends and making comparisons between the four sectors. However, the analysis is somewhat inconsistent. For instance, the statement that manufacturing had the maximum number of jobs throughout the period is contradicted by the data, as healthcare overtakes it by 2020. Additionally, the description of the peak in 1980 is slightly confusingly phrased. While the key features are identified, the lack of precision in reporting the data (e.g., misinterpreting the trends for manufacturing) prevents a higher score. To improve, ensure that data points are accurately read and that the summary reflects the actual shifts shown in the graph.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate. For example, the transition 'In 1960, retail and agriculture has equal number...' is a bit abrupt. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as the use of 'it' when referring back to multiple potential subjects. While there is an overall progression, the logical flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that pronouns clearly refer to their intended nouns.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There is frequent repetition of basic terms like 'number of occupation' and 'maximum'. The student struggles with word forms, such as using 'occupation' (a countable noun referring to a job role) instead of 'jobs' or 'employment' (the sector-wide metric). There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'throughtout' (spelling) and 'steadly' (spelling). To reach a higher band, the student should use more precise terminology related to economic trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'surpassed', or 'downward trend'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Subject-verb agreement is a recurring issue, such as 'retail and agriculture has' (should be 'have') and 'manufacturing remains maximum number' (missing article). There are also errors in tense usage and prepositional phrases, such as 'in between 1960 and 2000' (redundant 'in'). While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors limits the score. Focusing on basic subject-verb agreement and correct article usage would significantly improve the accuracy of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.