Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The line chart displays data related to the number of jobs in four categories of the economy in America from 1960 to 2020.

In the retail sector, the number of jobs rose consistently from just over 5 million in 1960 to around 15 million in 2020. When it comes to healthcare, the trend was similar to that in retail. In the starting year, it was the lowest compared to other categories, at around 3 million in 1960, and ended at the same figure as retail, which was the highest in 2020.

Between 1960 and 1980, the number of jobs in manufacturing went up significantly from 15 million to 20 million, and then continuously dropped to around 13 million in 2020. The number of jobs in the agriculture sector was approximately 6 million at the starting point and declined steadily year on year, ending at around 2 million in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all four sectors and identifies key trends, such as the growth in retail and healthcare and the decline in manufacturing and agriculture. However, the response falls just short of the 150-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the score. While the main features are highlighted, the overview is missing; a summary paragraph highlighting the overall trends (e.g., the shift from manufacturing to service-based sectors) is essential for a higher band. The data points are generally accurate, but the lack of a clear overview and the under-length status prevent a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on specific sectors. The progression of ideas is clear, moving from retail and healthcare to manufacturing and agriculture. Cohesive devices such as 'When it comes to,' 'In the starting year,' and 'Between 1960 and 1980' are used effectively to link sentences. Paragraphing is appropriate, and the information is easy to follow. To improve, ensure that the transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs is smoother and that the overview is clearly integrated.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'consistently,' 'significantly,' and 'declined steadily' to describe trends. There is some repetition of phrases like 'number of jobs,' which could be varied with synonyms such as 'employment figures' or 'workforce levels.' The range is sufficient to convey the information clearly, but it lacks the sophistication or variety of less common lexical items that would characterize a higher band. The word choice is generally accurate and does not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically correct, and punctuation is used effectively. There are no major errors that impede understanding. However, the range of structures is somewhat limited; incorporating more varied complex sentence patterns, such as using participle clauses or relative clauses, would enhance the grammatical profile. The accuracy is generally high, with only minor slips, which is consistent with a solid performance in this criterion.

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

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