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 graph illustrates the information about the US, the number of jobs in four categories of the economy between the years of 1960 and 2020.
Overall, the US economy has four sectors of jobs for individual from past 3 decades. chart shows a lot of the trends, but manufacturing jobs have declined over the years; despite this, the retail and healthcare professions figures have risen year by year.
In the year 1960, the figure given shows information on the manufacturing profession at 15 million, showing a change; it increased in the year of 1980 to 20 million, but after that its start decreasing over the years and came to approximately 13 million in 2020. Whereas if we look at other professions like retail or health care, it starts from 5 million and 3 million in 1960, then after that the figure shows a dramatic change, they begin rose in 1980, 10 million and 5 million or the pair end on approximately in 16 million in 2020. However, the job of agriculture has the least economic, in 1960 is around 6 million, then start declined in the year of 1980, is on 3 million or is same constant in the year of 2020
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response provides a summary of the main trends, but it lacks precision in reporting data. While you identify the four sectors, the description of the data is often vague or inaccurate. For example, you state manufacturing reached 13 million in 2020, but the graph shows a different trajectory. Additionally, the comparison between sectors is underdeveloped. To improve, ensure you select key data points (start, end, and significant peaks) and describe them accurately. Avoid using phrases like 'a lot of the trends' as they are too informal and imprecise for an Academic Task 1 response. Focus on clear, factual reporting of the provided information.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the flow of ideas is often disjointed due to the misuse of cohesive devices. Phrases like 'Whereas if we look at' and 'then after that' are used repetitively and do not always create logical links between sentences. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the progression of the data. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words such as 'consequently,' 'in contrast,' or 'subsequently' to connect your ideas more smoothly and professionally.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. You rely on basic terms like 'figure,' 'change,' and 'profession' throughout the text. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'the job of agriculture has the least economic' and 'they begin rose.' These errors occasionally make the meaning unclear. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to trends, such as 'fluctuated,' 'remained stable,' 'peaked,' or 'experienced a downward trend.' Expanding your range of descriptive verbs and nouns will significantly improve the quality of your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'it start decreasing'), incorrect verb tenses (e.g., 'they begin rose'), and awkward sentence construction. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some run-on sentences. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence structures before attempting more complex ones. Pay close attention to verb tense consistency when describing past trends and ensure that your subjects and verbs agree correctly.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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