Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The line graph illustrates the number of jobs available in the four sectors of the economy- Manufacture, retail, agriculture and healthcare in the US between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, the number of jobs in retail and healthcare sectors increased over the period while the figure for manufacturing and agriculture sector decreased. Although manufacturing was the largest job sector in 1960, it dropped dramatically towards the end of the period.

In 1960, approximately 3 million jobs were available in healthcare sector which increased gradually to around 12 million in 2000 before reaching a peak of about 16 million jobs by 2020. Similarly, the figure for retail sector stood at around 6 million in 1960, rose to 7 million in 1990 before increasing further 15 million in 2000. After that, the figure grew only gradually to 16 million by the end of the period.

In contrast, the number of jobs available in the manufacturing sector was much higher at 15 million in 1960 which increased sharply to 20 million by 1990. Then it resumed its downward trend and dropped to around 13 million by 2020. Likewise, the number of jobs for agriculture sector began at around 6 million, dropped to nearly 4 million by1990 and remained relatively stable until 2000 before decreasing slightly to approximately 3 million by the end of the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all four sectors and provides a clear overview of the trends. The main features are identified, such as the growth in healthcare and retail versus the decline in manufacturing and agriculture. However, there are some inaccuracies in data reporting. For instance, the text states retail rose to 15 million in 2000, which is a significant jump that does not align with typical graph interpretation for this task. Additionally, the manufacturing peak is described as 20 million in 1990, which requires careful verification against the visual data. While the overall trends are captured, the precision of the data reporting is slightly inconsistent, which prevents a higher band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group the sectors by their trends (increasing vs. decreasing). Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Similarly', and 'Likewise' are used effectively to guide the reader through the comparisons. Paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is clear. The response flows well, though some transitions could be more sophisticated to achieve a higher band. The structure is sound and supports the overall purpose of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task. You use terms like 'resumed its downward trend', 'remained relatively stable', and 'reached a peak' effectively. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'further 15 million' (missing 'to') and 'the figure for retail sector' (missing 'the'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey meaning clearly, it lacks the more sophisticated, precise collocations that would characterize a higher band score. The spelling is generally accurate throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'the healthcare sector' (missing article) and 'by1990' (spacing error). The sentence 'it increased sharply to 20 million by 1990' is grammatically sound, but there are occasional lapses in article usage and prepositional accuracy. The majority of sentences are clear and error-free, and the errors present do not impede communication. To improve, focus on consistent article usage and ensuring all numbers are formatted correctly with appropriate spacing.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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