Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-26
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 line graph displays the jobs in four different sectors in US between 1960 snd 2020.
Overall, there is an increase in job for two sectors which include Healthcare and Retail. However, the job market for Manufacturing sector increases till 1980 reaching maximum number of 20 million in jobs but then there is a decrease in the trend from 1980 to 2000 reaching minimum number of approximately 13 million.
As far as the Agriculture sector is concerned it can be observed that there is an overall trend of less jobs from 1960 to 2000 reaching its minimum number of jobs to approximately 2.5 million. The two growing sectors reach the maximum number of jobs in 2000 which is approximately 16 million.
In general it can be seen that overall the number of jobs available for people of US have been the same in 2000 compared to that in 1960. However, the only change was that the sectors which were providing jobs were varying over the time span of 40 years.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response provides a general overview and identifies some key trends, but it fails to cover all parts of the task effectively. You have omitted data for the period between 2000 and 2020, which is a significant portion of the graph. Furthermore, the description of the trends is somewhat inaccurate; for instance, you mention the two growing sectors reach a maximum in 2000, but the graph shows them continuing to rise until 2020. The summary of the overall job numbers is also imprecise. To improve, ensure you report on the entire timeframe provided and verify your data points against the visual information more carefully.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the logical progression is hindered by the lack of specific data points for the final two decades. While you use some cohesive devices like 'Overall' and 'However', the transitions between sentences are sometimes mechanical. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as when you refer to 'the two growing sectors' without explicitly naming them in that specific sentence. To achieve a higher band, focus on using a wider range of linking words and ensure that each paragraph flows logically into the next with clear topic sentences.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher score. You rely on basic phrasing such as 'increase in job' and 'reaching maximum number'. There are also minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'the number of jobs available for people of US have been the same'. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'remained stable', and ensure you use accurate terminology when describing economic sectors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as 'jobs in four different sectors in US' (missing article), '1960 snd 2020' (typo), and 'the number of jobs... have been' (subject-verb agreement error). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the overall fluency. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement, the correct use of articles, and proofreading for simple typographical errors.
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.