Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)
The line graph illustrates information about the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020,measured in millions.
Overall, manufacturing sector has the highest number of jobs available at the beginning of the period then gradually decreased throughout the period despite reaching at peak in 1980.Initially,Healthcare has the lowest number of jobs before reaching at the highest overtook manufacturing and agriculture sector.
In terms of manufacturing sector, 15 million jobs were available in 1960 .It continued to increase, reaching at its peak around 20 million vacancy available in 1980.Then, this figure decreased steadily reaching around 16.5 million jobs in 2000 and 13 million by the end of the period.Moving to retail sector, it started with 5.5 million jobs in 1960 and 10 million in 1990.The upward trend continued over the two decades, reaching 15 million jobs created in 2000.Lastly, this figure showed a modest increased to 16 million jobs by the end of the period.
In terms of Agriculture sector, the trend was quite opposite compared to retail sector, 5.5 million jobs were available in 1960.However, this figure dropped to around 4 million jobs in 1980 and remained stagnant until 2000.Finally, the figure stood at 2 million jobs by the end of the period which makes the lowest jobs available in the US.Lastly, Heathcare sector stood approximately at 3 million in 1960.It continued to increase, reaching at 5 million jobs in 1980 and 12 million in 2000.This figure lastly stood at 15 million jobs same as retail sector.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers all four sectors and identifies key trends, such as the rise of healthcare and the decline of agriculture. However, the overview is slightly inaccurate; for instance, the manufacturing sector did not have the highest number of jobs at the very beginning (it was similar to others) and the description of the healthcare sector's peak is slightly confusing. While the main features are reported, the comparison between sectors could be more analytical. The data points are generally accurate, but the summary lacks a clear, cohesive synthesis of the overall economic shift.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, with each sector receiving its own focus. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In terms of', 'Moving to', and 'Finally', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and the paragraphing could be improved by grouping the sectors that showed similar trends (e.g., the growing sectors vs. the declining ones). Referencing is generally clear, though the flow between sentences in the final paragraph is slightly repetitive.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'stagnant', 'modest increase', and 'upward trend'. However, there are some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'reaching at peak' (should be 'reaching a peak') and 'vacancy available' (should be 'vacancies' or 'job openings'). The range is sufficient to convey meaning, but it lacks the sophistication and precision required for a higher band score. Spelling is generally accurate, but the phrasing often feels slightly unnatural.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several recurring grammatical errors, particularly with prepositions and articles, such as 'reaching at its peak' and 'in Agriculture sector'. Additionally, there are punctuation issues, such as missing spaces after periods (e.g., '1960 .It'). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. The control over complex structures is inconsistent, and the sentence construction is occasionally clunky.
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.