Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-27

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 5.0)

The line graph illustrates the plenty of employment in manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare of the economy in the US from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, Manufacturing was leading from the front which lost it's position in 2010, While Retail and healthcare experienced a big increase and leads them on top at the end of the year. However, agriculture is the only sector that made a significant steady decrease over the years.

If we look at manufacturing it was the highest number of jobs in 1960 and that is 15million which also leads for almost 2000. However, it faces significant decrease which made them a 3rd on the rank. On the other hand, Agriculture was the 3rd most jobs in 1960. Although, It has went down steadily et the

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While you have identified the main trends, such as the decline in agriculture and the growth in retail and healthcare, the analysis is incomplete. The response cuts off mid-sentence, meaning you have not fully reported the data or provided a comprehensive summary of the trends. To improve, ensure you complete your analysis of all four sectors and provide a clear overview that synthesizes the data rather than just listing individual points. Because the response is unfinished and under-length, it cannot be awarded a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organized into an introduction and body paragraphs, but the progression is interrupted by the incomplete nature of the text. You use some cohesive devices like 'Overall', 'However', and 'On the other hand', which helps to signal shifts in the narrative. However, the lack of a conclusion and the abrupt ending make the overall structure feel disjointed. To improve, ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and that you use a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly. The current paragraphing is acceptable, but the lack of completion hinders the logical flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. Phrases like 'plenty of employment' are unnatural in this context, and 'leading from the front' is an idiom that is not appropriate for a formal academic report. You attempt to use sector-specific terminology, which is good, but the word choice is often imprecise. To improve, focus on using more academic collocations and precise reporting verbs. Avoid informal phrasing and ensure that your word choices accurately reflect the data presented in the graph.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are several grammatical errors that affect the clarity of your writing. For example, 'it's position' (should be 'its'), 'leads them on top', and 'It has went down' (should be 'It has gone down'). You rely mostly on simple sentence structures, and your attempts at more complex sentences contain errors in tense and subject-verb agreement. To improve, focus on mastering basic verb tenses and ensuring consistent subject-verb agreement. Additionally, proofread your work to catch simple punctuation and spelling errors, such as the incomplete sentence at the end of your response.

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