Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)
The line graph displays the jobs in four different sectors in the US between 1960 and 2020.
Overall, there is an increase in jobs for two sectors which include Healthcare and Retail. However, the job market for the Manufacturing sector increases till 1980 reaching a number of 20 million in jobs but then there is a decrease in the trend from 1980 to 2020 reaching a 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 2020 reaching its minimum number of jobs to approximately 2.5 million. The two growing sectors reach the maximum number of jobs in 2020 which is approximately 16 million.
In general it can be seen that overall the number of jobs available for the people of the US have been the same in 2020 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 | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all four sectors and identifies the main trends. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For instance, you mention the Healthcare and Retail sectors increasing but do not provide specific data points or comparisons between them. The overview is present but lacks a clear synthesis of the most significant trends, such as the dramatic shift from Agriculture to the service-oriented sectors. Additionally, the final paragraph contains a factual error regarding the total number of jobs remaining the same, which is not clearly supported by the graph. To improve, ensure you highlight the most striking differences and provide more precise data points for all sectors mentioned.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is logically organized into paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding overview. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'However,' 'As far as... is concerned,' and 'In general.' However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical. The transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother to better connect the contrasting trends. Referencing is generally clear, but the logical progression within the final paragraph is slightly weakened by the inaccurate summary of the total job numbers. Overall, the structure is functional and allows for easy reading.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to describe trends using terms like 'increase,' 'decrease,' and 'trend.' However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive. You rely heavily on basic phrasing such as 'number of jobs' and 'reaching a number of.' To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more varied vocabulary related to data description, such as 'fluctuated,' 'remained stable,' 'plummeted,' or 'witnessed a significant surge.' There are no major spelling errors, but the word choice lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher band scores.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the grammar is generally accurate and does not impede communication, there are minor errors in phrasing and article usage, such as 'the number of jobs available for the people of the US have been the same' (should be 'has been'). The use of prepositions and tense consistency is mostly correct, but the range of complex structures is limited. To improve, try to incorporate more varied subordinate clauses and ensure subject-verb agreement is consistently maintained throughout the text.
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.