Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-29

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 linear graph illustrates the number of employees working in Manufacturing, Retail, Agriculture and Healthcare sectors in US from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, there is a steady increase in jobs of retail and healthcare over the years. Manufacturing had a slight rise and then along with the Agriculture sector experienced a downfall in the end, eventually.

In 1960, while, the number of retail jobs are at at nearly 5 million. Employees for healthcare are about 2.5 million. Both of these sectors steadily increase in number through out the years, raising to nearly 15 million in 2020.

In contrast, people working for manufacturing companies had a peak from 15 million in 1960 to 20 million in 1990 before the downfall to almost 12 million in the year 2020. Employees working in the agriculture sector had decreased from approximately 5 million in 1960 to 3 million in 1990, and remained on the same level till the end.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all four sectors and identifies the main trends, such as the growth in retail and healthcare and the decline in manufacturing and agriculture. However, the overview is slightly underdeveloped. While you mention the trends, you could improve by highlighting the most significant contrast, such as the fact that healthcare and retail overtook manufacturing by the end of the period. The data reporting is generally accurate, though the description of the manufacturing peak at 20 million in 1990 is a good inclusion. To reach a higher band, ensure that comparisons between sectors are more explicit throughout the body paragraphs rather than just listing the data points for each sector individually.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is clear, moving from general trends to specific data points. You use some cohesive devices like 'In contrast' and 'while,' which help guide the reader. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and the referencing could be smoother. For instance, the phrase 'eventually' at the end of the second paragraph is slightly redundant and awkward in its placement. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus will help improve the flow and cohesion of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'sectors,' 'downfall,' and 'illustrates.' However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'downfall' is typically used for people or systems rather than economic data; 'decline' or 'decrease' would be more appropriate. Additionally, 'raising to' is incorrect in this context; 'rising to' or 'increasing to' should be used. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band score. Expanding your range of reporting verbs and nouns related to economic trends would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as 'the number of retail jobs are at at nearly 5 million' (subject-verb agreement and repetition) and 'through out the years' (should be one word). The use of articles is also inconsistent, such as 'in US' instead of 'in the US.' While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent use of articles will significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.

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.