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 illustrate the ratio of employment of four different sectors of economy of United States from [redacted phone].
overview ,the line graph represent the highest number of jobs which are in the sector of manufacturing in the year of 1960 which rises from 15 million to 20 million in year 1980 but decline to approximately 14 million in year 2020 as compared to the jobs in the sector of healthcare which was at the lowest approximately 3 million in the year of 2020
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, reaching only 84 words. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. The content is significantly underdeveloped; it focuses on only two sectors (manufacturing and healthcare) and ignores the other two sectors entirely. There is no clear overview of the overall trends, and the information provided is fragmented. To improve, you must describe all four sectors, identify the main trends (increases, decreases, or stability), and provide a clear, concise summary of the most significant features of the graph.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response lacks a logical structure. It begins with an introduction but fails to use paragraphing effectively. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link ideas, making the text feel like a collection of isolated points rather than a coherent report. The transition between the introduction and the body is abrupt, and the lack of a clear structure makes it difficult for the reader to follow the progression of information. Using linking words such as 'whereas', 'in contrast', or 'subsequently' would help improve the flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. You rely on basic terms like 'number of jobs' and 'sector'. There are also errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'ratio of employment' (which is not accurate for the data provided) and 'in year 1980' (missing the article 'the'). To achieve a higher band, you should aim to use a wider range of vocabulary related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', 'peaked', or 'experienced a downward trend'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Subject-verb agreement is inconsistent, such as 'The line graph illustrate' (should be 'illustrates') and 'the line graph represent' (should be 'represents'). Articles are frequently missing, such as 'in year 1980' instead of 'in the year 1980'. The sentence structures are simple and lack the complexity required for higher bands. You should focus on mastering basic sentence construction, including correct verb forms and the appropriate use of articles, before attempting more complex structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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