Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-28

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 graph provides information about the number jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020. Overall, the jobs for manufacturing first increased then decreased over the period ,the jobs for retail increased steadily and also for healthcare , However , the jobs for agriculture increased . In 1960 the jobs for manufacturing recorded highest as 15 .then it increased by 5 before falling to 13 in 2020 and the jobs for retail increased from 5 in 1960 to 15 in 2000 and after this there was a tiny increased .the jobs for Agriculture declined from 5 in 1960 to 3 in 1980 and then remained stable for 2000 before falling in 2020 . in contrast the job for healthcare recorded lowest initially and then increased by 14 in 2020 . The jobs for retail and healthcare recorded highest in the end for a period

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all four sectors and identifies key trends, such as the rise in healthcare and retail jobs and the decline in agriculture. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview that synthesizes the data effectively. The description of the manufacturing sector is slightly inaccurate regarding the data points, and the overall summary is buried within the text rather than being clearly presented as an introductory overview. To improve, ensure that the main trends are highlighted in the introduction and that data points are cited with greater precision to support the comparisons made.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is organized into a single block of text, which makes it difficult to follow. There is a lack of paragraphing, which is essential for a clear structure in IELTS Task 1. While some cohesive devices like 'In contrast' and 'However' are used, the flow between sentences is often disjointed. The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the progression of ideas feels repetitive. To reach a higher band, you should use clear paragraph breaks to separate the introduction, the overview, and the detailed body paragraphs, and use a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is somewhat repetitive, relying heavily on phrases like 'the jobs for' and 'increased'. There is a limited range of lexical items used to describe trends (e.g., 'tiny increased' is grammatically incorrect). While the meaning is generally clear, there is a lack of variety in the verbs and nouns used to describe economic data. To improve, incorporate more precise vocabulary such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', 'remained constant', or 'experienced a marginal rise' to demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, particularly with articles, punctuation, and sentence structure. For example, 'the jobs for manufacturing recorded highest as 15' is missing necessary prepositions and articles. The use of capitalization is inconsistent (e.g., 'Agriculture' capitalized mid-sentence), and there are several run-on sentences or comma splices. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and punctuation limits the score. Focus on mastering subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles to improve clarity and accuracy.

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