Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-19

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 6.5)

The line graph illustrates the number of jobs in four different sectors namely manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare, measured in millions from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, manufacturing had the highest number of jobs at the beginning of the period, but it declined after reaching its peak in the middle of the year. In contrast, retail and healthcare experienced noticeable growth, while agriculture showed a continuous decline trend.

Initially, in 1960, manufacturing accounted for approximately 15 million jobs, compared to retail and agriculture around 6 million. Healthcare had the lowest jobs, at only 2 million. Manufacturing increased significantly to 20 million in 1980 before falling to 17 million in 2000 and 13 million 2020.

Furthermore, retail followed a steady upward trend throughout the period, rising from 5 million in 1960 to 10 million in 1980 and 15 million in 2000. It reached around 16 million in 2020. Healthcare also grew dynamically, from 2 million jobs in 1980 and 11 million in 2000, before reaching approximately 16 million in 2020.

In contrast, agriculture fell from 6 million jobs in 1960 to about 3 million in 1980 and remained stable until 2000. It declined further and reached around 2 million in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. You covered all four sectors and made relevant comparisons, such as noting the contrast between the declining manufacturing sector and the growth in healthcare and retail. The data points are generally accurate, though there is a minor inconsistency in the description of the healthcare trend, as you mention it starting in 1980 despite the graph showing data from 1960. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are accurately referenced from the provided visual information and that the overview highlights the most significant shifts across the entire period.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that group information by sector. You use cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Furthermore', and 'Initially' to guide the reader through the data. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the paragraphing is appropriate for an Academic Task 1 response. To improve, ensure that the transition between the overview and the detailed body paragraphs is seamless and that referencing remains consistent throughout the text to avoid any ambiguity.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'steady upward trend', 'declined further', and 'remained stable'. The language is precise enough to convey the information clearly. However, to achieve a higher band, you should incorporate more sophisticated collocations and varied synonyms to avoid repetition of phrases like 'number of jobs'. For instance, instead of 'lowest jobs', you could use 'the lowest employment figures'. The current range is adequate for the task but lacks the flexibility and precision required for the highest bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. Most of your sentences are clear and error-free, though there are minor slips, such as 'declined trend' (should be 'downward trend') and 'middle of the year' (which is an inaccurate interpretation of the timeline). Punctuation is generally well-handled. To reach a higher band, focus on increasing the variety of complex structures and ensuring that all descriptive phrases are grammatically precise. The errors present do not impede communication, but they do limit the overall sophistication of the writing.

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