Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-17
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 6.0)
The given line graph depicts the data about the number of jobs in four different sectors of the economy including manufacture, reatail, agriculture and healthcare, in the United States from 1960 to 2020.
Overall, a cursory glance at the graph is enough to make it clear that retail and healthcare sector saw an increase throughout the given decades.
In 1960, manufacturing had the highest number of jobs, which was 15 million, while the least number saw healthcare division, approximately 2 million. Retail and agriculture both was above 5 million. In 1980, the figure of manufacturing rose rapidly to 20 million, however, this number started to fall considerably, reaching around 13 million in 2020.
Retail and healthcare segments rose to 10 million and 5 million in 1980, while agriculture saw a slight fall to just below 5 million. Both retail and healthcare increased gradually to just over 15 million in 2020. The figure of agriculture remained between 1 to 5 million for the rest of the decades.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
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 movements in the sectors. To reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are precise; for example, when mentioning that manufacturing 'started to fall considerably', you could explicitly contrast this with the growth in the other sectors to strengthen the analytical aspect of your report. Overall, the information is accurate and the key features are well-selected.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use some cohesive devices like 'while', 'however', and 'in 1980', which help connect the information. However, the transition between sentences could be smoother. For instance, the final sentence about agriculture feels slightly disconnected from the previous discussion of retail and healthcare. Using a wider range of linking words or phrases to contrast the sectors more effectively would improve the flow and cohesion of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'depicts', 'segments', and 'considerably'. There are some minor errors, such as 'reatail' (spelling) and 'least number saw healthcare division' (awkward phrasing). To improve, try to use more precise collocations and avoid repetitive structures. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the sophistication and flexibility required for higher bands. Focusing on more varied ways to describe trends, such as 'experienced a downward trajectory' or 'witnessed a steady climb', would enhance your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical slips. For example, 'Retail and agriculture both was above' should be 'were above', and 'the least number saw healthcare division' is grammatically incorrect. Additionally, some articles are missing or misused. Despite these errors, they do not impede communication. To achieve a higher band, you should aim for more error-free sentences and ensure subject-verb agreement is consistently accurate throughout the text.
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.