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 growth in healthcare and the decline in agriculture. The data points are generally accurate and support your descriptions well. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are precise; for example, you mentioned manufacturing peaked in the 'middle of the year,' which is vague. Additionally, ensure that all years mentioned are clearly linked to the data provided in the graph to avoid any ambiguity in your reporting.

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 easy to follow. To improve, ensure that your paragraph transitions are even more seamless. While the current structure is effective, using a wider variety of cohesive markers or linking phrases could help elevate the flow of your writing to a more sophisticated level.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'declined,' 'noticeable growth,' 'steady upward trend,' and 'remained stable.' These terms are used accurately and appropriately for an academic report. However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive in its structure. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more varied and precise collocations or less common lexical items. For instance, instead of repeating 'number of jobs,' you could use 'employment figures' or 'workforce numbers' to show greater lexical flexibility and precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, and the majority of your sentences are error-free. Your control over tense and subject-verb agreement is generally good. There are minor issues, such as 'declined further and reached around 2 million,' which could be more elegantly phrased. Additionally, ensure consistent punctuation. While your grammar is clear and does not impede communication, incorporating a wider variety of complex grammatical structures—such as passive voice or more advanced relative clauses—would demonstrate greater range and help you move toward a higher band score.

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