Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 provided line graph shows information related to the ratio of jobs in the four economic sectors in the United states between [redacted phone].

Overall, the graph is about the number of jobs in four economic sectors including Manufacturing, Retail, Agriculture and Healthcare.

Jobs ratio in retail and healthcare is increased slightly with the passage of time. And the other two sector's job ratios are declined.

In 1960, the proportions of jobs in Retail and Agriculture both are below 10 million and below 5 million respectively. But, as long as, the time passed the number of jobs in both these economic sectors had rose. At the end, in 2020, the job's ratio in both the sectors are same and reached up to 15 million or slightly more.

In 1960, the job's proportion in the sector of manufacturing started from 15 million and then increased up to 20 millions of job. But , after that, suddenly, it's growth declined till the year 2020. Finally its ratio dropped below 15 million of jobs where its started. On the other hand, the job's average in agriculture sector started from slightly above 5 million but than with the passage of time faced a declined in its growth and reached below 5 million of jobs. After that it's progress remained almost same till 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response provides a summary of the main features, but the accuracy of the data interpretation is inconsistent. For instance, the text claims agriculture jobs rose to 15 million, whereas the graph shows a decline. The overview is somewhat repetitive and lacks a clear synthesis of the trends. While all four sectors are mentioned, the description of the data is often imprecise, and the distinction between 'ratio' and 'number of jobs' is confused throughout the report. To improve, focus on accurately identifying the starting and ending points and describing the overall trends (e.g., upward or downward) without misinterpreting the numerical values provided in the graph.

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 often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'as long as, the time passed' are unnatural and impede the flow of ideas. The transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is abrupt. While there is a logical attempt to group the sectors, the internal progression within paragraphs is hindered by awkward phrasing and repetitive sentence structures. Improving the use of linking words such as 'consequently,' 'in contrast,' or 'subsequently' would help create a more professional and cohesive response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic terms like 'jobs,' 'ratio,' and 'increased.' There are frequent errors in word choice, such as using 'ratio' when referring to absolute numbers, and 'job's average' which is not appropriate in this context. The phrasing 'it's growth declined' contains a common error (confusing 'its' with 'it's'). To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise vocabulary related to data description, such as 'fluctuated,' 'remained stable,' 'peaked,' or 'experienced a downward trend,' and ensure you use the correct terminology for the data presented.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence attempts, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally cause confusion. Issues include incorrect verb tenses (e.g., 'had rose' instead of 'had risen'), subject-verb agreement errors (e.g., 'job's ratio... are same'), and misuse of apostrophes. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the placement of commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors like subject-verb agreement will significantly improve your score.

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

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