Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-22

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 5.5)

The graph compares the information about the jobs in four sectors (manufacturing, retail, agriculture, healthcare) of the economy in the Us between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, number of jobs for healthcare saw a most dramatic change over the period reaching at the in same figure as retail. Agriculture accounted for the lowest in share from starting and fell more at the end of the time. While, the manufacturing first stood at highest in figure among three but later slightly fell down.

In 1960, number of jobs for manufacturing sector represented the largest share exact 15 millions jobs. It increased reaching 20 millions jobs in 1980. After 1980 we saw a noticeable decrease in figure around 13 millions jobs at the end of the 2020. In contrast, healthcare sector accounted for the lowest in figure in 1960 at just 2 millions jobs and increased sharply to above 15

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 have identified the main features of the graph, the summary is incomplete; the text cuts off abruptly while describing the healthcare sector, meaning you have not fully reported on all four sectors or provided a complete overview. To improve, ensure you cover all data points mentioned in the prompt and provide a comprehensive summary that includes all sectors. The lack of completion prevents a higher score as the task is not fully addressed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into an introduction, an overview, and one body paragraph. However, the progression is interrupted by the incomplete nature of the text. You use some cohesive devices like 'Overall', 'While', and 'In contrast', which help to link ideas. However, the abrupt ending makes the overall structure feel unfinished. To improve, ensure that your paragraphs are balanced and that you use a wider range of linking words to connect your comparisons more fluidly. The paragraphing is logical, but the lack of a concluding sentence or a fully developed body section limits the coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'dramatic change', 'accounted for', and 'increased sharply'. However, there are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'reaching at the in same figure' and 'lowest in share from starting'. These errors occasionally impede the flow of your writing. To reach a higher band, focus on more natural collocations and avoid repetitive structures. Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise descriptors for trends, such as 'fluctuated' or 'remained stable', would also be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('the US', 'the healthcare sector') and prepositions ('reaching at'). Additionally, there are issues with subject-verb agreement and word order, such as 'number of jobs for healthcare saw a most dramatic change'. While the meaning is generally clear, these errors are frequent enough to be noticeable. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and proofreading for article usage and prepositional accuracy.

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

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