Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-24

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 the number of jobs on four sectors of the economy in the US, namely manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare, between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, manufacturing had the highest number of jobs in 1960 and reached a peak in 1980, but then it declined. In contrast, retail and healthcare increased Agriculture showed a downward trend.

In 1960, manufacturing provided about 15 million jobs, while retail and agriculture had around 6 million each. Healthcare had the lowest figure, at only 2 million. By 1980, manufacturing had risen to 20 million jobs, whereas retail increased to 10 million. However, agriculture fell to approximately 3 million, while healthcare rose to 5 million.

In 2000, manufacturing decreased slightly to around 17 million jobs. Retail reached 15 million and healthcare increased to about 11 million. Agriculture remained almost unchanged at 3 million. Finally, in 2020, retail and healthcare both reached approximately 16 million jobs. Manufacturing fell to around 13 million, while agriculture declined slightly to about 2 million.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all parts of the task by identifying the four sectors and describing their trends over the 60-year period. You successfully selected the main features, such as the peak of manufacturing in 1980 and the convergence of retail and healthcare by 2020. However, the overview is slightly underdeveloped; while you mention the trends, a more cohesive summary of the overall shift from a manufacturing-based economy to a service-based one would strengthen the response. The data points are generally accurate, though ensure that comparisons are made more explicitly throughout the body paragraphs to better highlight the relationships between the sectors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and two body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is easy to follow, moving chronologically through the decades. You make good use of cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'whereas', and 'however' to link contrasting trends. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the initial data from the later developments. To reach a higher band, you could vary your cohesive devices further and ensure that referencing between sentences is consistently smooth, as some transitions feel slightly mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Terms like 'illustrates', 'declined', 'downward trend', and 'remained almost unchanged' are used accurately. There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary related to economic sectors. However, the range is somewhat limited; to achieve a higher score, you should incorporate more sophisticated synonyms and collocations to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'surpassed', or 'plateaued'. The current vocabulary is functional and precise enough for the task but lacks the flexibility associated with higher band descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and your control of grammar is generally good. There is a minor preposition error in the introduction ('jobs on four sectors' should be 'jobs in four sectors'). You use complex structures like 'while retail increased to 10 million' effectively. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical forms, such as passive voice constructions or participle clauses (e.g., 'Having peaked in 1980, manufacturing began a steady decline'). The current level of accuracy is high, with very few errors that impede communication.

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