Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-20

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 chart gives the information about jobs in four sectors in US in given years.

Overall, it is crystal clear that healthcare was continuously increased as compare to other job sectors face ups and downs .

Having a quick glance, it is vivid that in 1960 the number of manufacturing was highest with 15 million . which was followed by retail with above 6 percent in year 1960 . Interestingly , retail and agriculture was at similar position in first year . Manufacturing reach 20 million in year 1980 after that it was continuously decrease in last two years .

Moving towards the rest of the information , healthcare was at lowest position in first year then it was continuously increased and reached at top in last year. Agriculture face ups and downs in given years and noticed at lowest position from 1960 to 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the score. While you identify the main trends, the analysis is somewhat superficial. You mention that manufacturing was the highest in 1960, but the data interpretation is inconsistent (e.g., mentioning '6 percent' when the graph shows millions). The overview is present but lacks sufficient detail to fully capture the significant shifts in the four sectors. To improve, ensure you provide accurate data points and a more comprehensive summary of the trends, ensuring you meet the minimum length requirement to avoid a penalty.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally awkward, such as 'Moving towards the rest of the information'. The progression of ideas is logical, but the transitions between sentences could be smoother. Referencing is sometimes unclear, and the lack of sufficient length makes the overall development feel truncated. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus that flows naturally from the previous one.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. You rely on basic verbs like 'increased', 'decrease', and 'face'. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'at similar position' instead of 'at a similar level' and 'in last two years' which is ambiguous. The use of 'vivid' and 'crystal clear' is slightly informal for an Academic Task 1 report. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise terminology for describing trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'remained stable', and ensure your word choices are contextually appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with articles ('the number of manufacturing'), subject-verb agreement ('retail and agriculture was'), and tense usage ('Manufacturing reach'). The sentence structures are predominantly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the placement of periods and spaces. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring subject-verb agreement, and using a wider range of complex structures, such as relative clauses or subordinating conjunctions, while proofreading to eliminate basic errors.

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

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