Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The line graph illustrates changes in the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the us between 1960 to 2020.

overall it is clear that the number of jobs in retail increased considerably, whereas the figure for manufacturing or declined. In addition, manufacturing remained first increased and then decreased throughout the period.

Looking First at manufacturing, the figure stood at 20 in year 1980. It then decreased to between 10 to 15. similarly Agriculture decreased highly from 5-0 in year 1980 then become stable in year 1980 to 2020.

Turning to retail, the figure was 5 before rising to 15. By contrast, healthcare followed increased suddenly 0 to 15 in between year 1960 to 2020. This graph shows the changes between

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the response. While you have identified some trends, the analysis is incomplete and lacks sufficient detail. Several data points are missing or inaccurately described, such as the vague reference to '20' or '10 to 15' without units or clear timeframes. The overview is present but lacks the necessary depth to cover the main features effectively. To improve, ensure you provide a comprehensive summary that includes all four sectors and uses specific data points from the graph to support your observations.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is hindered by the lack of content and incomplete sentences. Cohesive devices are used in a very basic and sometimes repetitive manner, such as 'Looking First at' and 'Turning to'. The final sentence is incomplete, which disrupts the flow of the text. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that guides the reader through the data.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The range of vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. You rely on basic verbs like 'increased' and 'decreased' throughout the text. There are also issues with word choice, such as 'decreased highly' and 'followed increased suddenly', which are not natural collocations. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'plummeted', or 'remained stable'. Additionally, ensure that you use appropriate terminology for describing data trends rather than relying on generic descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the response, including issues with subject-verb agreement, incorrect prepositions, and sentence fragments. For example, 'manufacturing remained first increased and then decreased' is structurally incorrect. The use of tenses is also inconsistent, and the final sentence is left unfinished. While some simple sentences are clear, the lack of complex structures and the high frequency of errors impede the overall clarity of the writing. Focus on mastering basic sentence construction before attempting more complex grammatical forms.

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.