Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The line graph illustrates the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US between [redacted phone]

Overall it is clear that retail had the highest jobs in millions while agriculture had the lowest jobs in

millions. In addition, there are significant difference between the most and least popular jobs.

Looking at the details, that retail stood at 17 jobs in millions. It was followed by healthcare with 16 jobs which was slightly lower than retail.

In comparison, the manufacturing had 13 jobs while agriculture had only 2 jobs. By the end of the period manufacturing remained was most popular in economy whereas agriculture was lower popular economy.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While you have identified the main sectors, the analysis is very brief and lacks the necessary detail to fully describe the trends over the 60-year period. You have provided only a snapshot of the data rather than describing the changes or fluctuations over time. To improve, you must ensure you cover the entire timeframe and provide a more comprehensive overview of the data trends, including significant increases or decreases, to ensure the task is fully addressed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organized into a brief introduction and a body paragraph, but the lack of length prevents a clear logical progression. While you use basic cohesive devices like 'In addition' and 'In comparison', the overall structure feels mechanical and underdeveloped. The paragraphing is insufficient, and the transition between the overview and the specific details is abrupt. To improve, focus on grouping related information together and using a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is quite basic and repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'jobs' and 'economy'. There is a lack of variety in how you describe the data, and some phrasing is unnatural, such as 'lower popular economy'. You need to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to describing trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', 'remained stable', or 'experienced a significant decline'. Expanding your range of synonyms and learning how to use them in the correct context will help you achieve a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains several grammatical errors that hinder clarity. For example, 'retail had the highest jobs' should be 'the highest number of jobs', and 'manufacturing remained was most popular' is grammatically incorrect. You rely on simple sentence structures, and there is a lack of complex grammatical forms. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. Additionally, try to incorporate a mix of complex sentence structures, such as using relative clauses or subordinating conjunctions, to demonstrate a wider range of grammatical control.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.