Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-18
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 line graph illustrates the number of jobs in four economic sectors of the US between 1960 and 2020.
Overall, the manufacturing sector faced a decline in the number of jobs, whereas the rural and agricultural sector offered a greater number of jobs by the end of the period. The figure remained the lowest for healthcare.
The manufacturing sector showed an upward trajectory for the first two decades, starting from 15 million jobs to almost 20 million , before a sharp decline to 13 million jobs until 2020. The rural sector started from 5.5 million jobs and experienced a consistent increase in the figures to 10 million in 1980 and 15 million in 2000, after which it displayed a steady increase in the jobs to 15.5 million by 2020. As for the agricultural sector, it also grew over time and rose to 15.5 million by 2020. By the end of the timeframe, these two sectors were the biggest providers of t jobs. However, the healthcare sector presented a dip over the first two decades, followed by a steady drop in the number of jobs until 2020, when it offered far fewer jobs as compared to its competitors.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response provides a clear overview of the main trends and selects relevant data to support the description. However, there are significant inaccuracies regarding the data interpretation. For instance, the text states the healthcare sector experienced a 'steady drop' and ended with 'far fewer jobs,' whereas the graph shows healthcare actually experienced a significant upward trend, ending as the highest sector. This misreading of the data is a serious issue that impacts the accuracy of the task completion. While the structure is logical, the failure to correctly identify the main features of the provided graph prevents a higher score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that group information by sector. Cohesive devices such as 'whereas,' 'before,' 'after which,' and 'however' are used to link ideas effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed analysis. The progression of ideas is generally clear, although the misinterpretation of the data mentioned in the task achievement section slightly disrupts the logical flow of the comparison. Overall, the text is easy to follow and demonstrates a good level of coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with some attempts at using topic-specific language such as 'upward trajectory,' 'timeframe,' and 'economic sectors.' However, there are some minor errors in word choice and phrasing, such as 'the figure remained the lowest for healthcare' (which is factually incorrect based on the graph) and 't jobs' (a typo). To achieve a higher band, the student should aim for more precise collocations and ensure that the vocabulary used accurately reflects the data presented in the visual prompt.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is generally good control over grammar, and the errors present do not impede communication. Examples of complex structures include 'before a sharp decline to 13 million jobs until 2020' and 'as for the agricultural sector, it also grew over time.' Punctuation is mostly accurate, though there is an occasional spacing issue (e.g., '20 million ,'). The grammatical control is consistent, and the majority of sentences are error-free, which is characteristic of a solid band 7 performance.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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