Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-25
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 5.5)
The multi linear graph shown illustrates the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US between the year range of 1960 to 2020 in millions.
At a glace, the manufacturing sectors shows a substantial rise in the economy throughout the timespan, but showed slight reduction afterwards. However, agriculture retail has declined in the given range of time. Number of retail jobs gradually increased with time and then became stable.
Healthcare, however, gradually rose and improved a lot in the later years.
If we look closely, manufacturing jobs reached the highest point in the year 1980, however gradually declined till 2020.
Retail rose gradually throughout the years 1960 to 2000, but remained stable afterwards. in 1860, healthcare was amongst the least jobs sector however it rose and joined retail till 2020. agriculture was a the lowest throughout. it remained the lowest and stable from the years 1980 to 2020.
To conclude we can see that manufacturing provided the most amount of jobs however agriculture stayed the least in job sector throughout the years.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the graph, identifying trends for all four sectors. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial and contains factual inaccuracies. For instance, the text claims manufacturing reached its peak in 1980 and declined until 2020, but the data shows a more complex pattern. Additionally, the statement 'agriculture retail has declined' is confusing as it conflates two distinct sectors. The overview is present but lacks precision. To reach a higher band, ensure that data points are described accurately and that comparisons between sectors are more clearly articulated, rather than simply listing trends for each category in isolation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate. For example, the transition 'If we look closely' is used, but the subsequent paragraph lacks a clear logical flow between the points made. There are also issues with referencing; the phrase 'joined retail till 2020' is vague. Paragraphing is present but could be more effectively used to group related trends, such as comparing the declining sectors against the growing ones, rather than jumping between categories.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are some noticeable errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'multi linear graph' (should be 'line graph') and 'at a glace' (spelling error). The repetition of words like 'gradually' and 'stable' limits the range. While the student attempts to use sector-specific terminology, the phrasing is sometimes awkward, such as 'least jobs sector'. Improving the variety of verbs used to describe trends (e.g., 'fluctuated', 'plummeted', 'surpassed') would significantly enhance the quality of the writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'the manufacturing sectors shows' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'in 1860, healthcare was' (likely a typo for 1960). Punctuation is inconsistent, with missing capital letters at the start of sentences and errors in sentence boundaries. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these minor errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and tense consistency would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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