Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The line graph illustrates the changes in the number of job, measured in millions, across four sectors, including Manufacturing, Retail, Agriculture and Healthcare in the use economy betweeen [redacted phone]. Overall, Service sector— such as Retail and Healthcare takes the lead at the end of a period. Conversely, Manufacturing and Agriculture employment followed the downward trend, despite the initial rise in manufacturing employment.

In 1960, Manufacturing sector was by far the dominant, providing approximately 15-16 million jobs. Further, it moved steadily, touching the peak of 20 million, over the period of two decades. Then, it experienced a sharp and consistent decline, reaching at its lowest point at around 9 million.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which severely impacts the ability to cover all parts of the task. You have only described the Manufacturing sector and provided a brief overview, failing to report on the Retail, Agriculture, and Healthcare sectors entirely. To improve, you must ensure all data categories are addressed and that the response meets the length requirement to allow for a full summary of the main features and relevant comparisons. Currently, the response is incomplete and lacks the necessary depth to achieve a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response shows a basic attempt at organization with an introduction and one body paragraph. However, the lack of completion means there is no clear overall progression or logical development of the information. Cohesive devices are used in a limited way, such as 'Conversely' and 'Further', but the abrupt ending prevents the establishment of a coherent structure. To improve, ensure you have a clear introduction, a summary of main features, and distinct paragraphs for different data trends, using a wider range of linking words to connect your ideas smoothly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'dominant', 'downward trend', and 'consistent decline' being used correctly. However, there are some errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'use economy' (likely meant 'US economy') and 'betweeen'. The range is limited due to the short length of the response. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and ensure accurate spelling and collocations throughout your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are several grammatical errors that detract from the quality. For example, 'reaching at its lowest point' is incorrect (should be 'reaching its lowest point'), and there are issues with article usage and prepositions. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of errors in such a short text is noticeable. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions with verbs of change.

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

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