Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-23

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 graph illustrates data of four job sector manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare which contribute to the economy of the US during the time 1960 to 2020.

Overall, manufacturing and agriculture saw a downward trend, whereas retail and healthcare saw an upward trend during the years.

In 1960, healthcare had the smallest number of jobs in the US economy with approximately 2.5 million, while manufacturing had the largest share of 15 million jobs. In two decades, manufacturing reached its peak of 20 million, whereas, healthcare moderately increased to 5 million. Until 2020, manufacturing saw a steady downfall and reached about 13.5 million, however, healthcare saw a dramatic increase during the years and reached above 15 million in 2020.

Retail and agriculture both started about 6 million in 1960. Although retail saw a continued increase during the timeline and reached almost 16 million, agriculture was the opposite, and in 2020 it reached approximately 2 million.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main trends and provides a clear overview of the data. You have selected key features, such as the peak of manufacturing and the contrasting trajectories of the four sectors. However, the report could be improved by providing more precise comparisons between the sectors at specific time intervals. For instance, while you mention the starting points, a more direct comparison of the final figures in 2020 would strengthen the analysis. Overall, the response covers all parts of the task well and presents a logical summary of the information provided in the graph.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'although', and 'however' to link ideas effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate, with one paragraph dedicated to the manufacturing and healthcare sectors and another to retail and agriculture. The progression of ideas is clear, and the information is easy to follow. To reach a higher band, ensure that the transition between sentences is even smoother and avoid slightly repetitive phrasing when describing trends.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information accurately. Phrases like 'downward trend', 'upward trend', 'steady downfall', and 'dramatic increase' are used appropriately to describe the data. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'illustrates data of' (should be 'illustrates data for') and 'during the time 1960 to 2020' (should be 'between 1960 and 2020'). Despite these minor inaccuracies, the vocabulary is adequate for the task and does not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While most sentences are clear, there are some grammatical slips, such as 'Retail and agriculture both started about 6 million' (missing 'at') and 'during the years' (which is slightly vague). Punctuation is generally handled well, though some comma usage could be more precise. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the errors present do not cause any difficulty for the reader. To improve, focus on ensuring prepositions and articles are used consistently.

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

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