Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The line graph compares the number of jobs in four different sectors of the US economy from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, employment in the retail and agriculture sectors increased over the period, while the manufacturing sector experienced a rise followed by a decline. In addition, the healthcare sector remained relatively stable throughout the period, despite some fluctuations.

An analysis of the graph reveals that, in 1960, the manufacturing sector accounted for 15 million jobs and rose steadily to 20 million jobs in 1980, before falling to approximately 13 million in 2020. Moreover, the healthcare sector recorded approximately 6 million jobs in 1960 and declined slightly in 1980, accounting for around 3 million by 2020.

Furthermore, the retail sector recorded 6 million jobs in 1960, and the figure witnessed a dramatic increase in 1980, with 10 million jobs, , after that it rose gradually to approximately 16 million by 2020. A similar pattern is observed in the agriculture sector, where it initially recorded nearly 2 million jobs in 1960, and this figure climbed to 11 million in 2000. Finally, the figure reached 16 million by 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all four sectors and identifies the main trends over the 60-year period. The overview is clear and highlights the key differences between the sectors. However, there are some inaccuracies regarding the data provided in the graph. For example, the healthcare sector is described as declining to 3 million by 2020, whereas the graph shows it remaining relatively stable or increasing slightly. Additionally, the description of the agriculture sector's growth is slightly misaligned with the visual data. While the main features are reported, greater precision in data interpretation is required to reach a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Moreover', 'Furthermore', and 'Finally' are used to guide the reader through the information. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different sectors. However, there is a minor punctuation error in the third paragraph ('jobs, , after that'), which slightly disrupts the flow. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear, and the information is presented in a coherent manner.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally appropriate for the task, using terms like 'accounted for', 'witnessed a dramatic increase', and 'climbed'. There is a sufficient range to convey the trends accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it lacks the sophistication or 'less common' lexical items that would characterize a higher band. The word choice is accurate, and there are no spelling errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and grammatically sound. There are some minor issues, such as the double comma in the third paragraph and the slightly awkward phrasing 'where it initially recorded... and this figure climbed'. However, these errors are infrequent and do not impede the reader's understanding. The control of grammar is generally good, and the punctuation is mostly accurate, supporting the overall clarity of the report.

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

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