Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-30

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 graph illustrated the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, Manufacturing had the highest number of jobs for the most of the period, while agriculture had the lowest. Retail and healthcare increased over the period, whereas manufacturing and agriculture decreased after reaching their highest points.

In 1960, there were 15 million jobs in manufacturing. This number increased to 20 million in 1980. After that, it fell to 17 million in 2000 and 13 million in 2020. Retail started it about 6 million jobs in 1960 and increased steadily. It reached 15 million in 2000 and about 16 million in 2020.

Agriculture has about 6 million jobs in 1960. The figure fell to 3 million in 1980 and stayed the same until 2000, before falling to 2 million in 2020. Healthcare started at about 5 million jobs in 1960 and increased to around 11 million in 2000 and 16 million in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main trends and provides a clear overview of the data. You have highlighted the key features, such as the dominance of manufacturing and the growth in the service sectors. The data is accurately reported, and comparisons are made between the sectors. To reach a higher band, ensure that the 'overview' paragraph is more distinct and perhaps slightly more analytical regarding the overall shift in the economy, rather than just listing the trends. You have covered all parts of the task well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on the different sectors. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Overall', 'while', 'whereas', and 'after that', which help link the information. However, the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that the transition between sentences is smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the trends, such as 'increased steadily', 'fell', and 'reached their highest points'. The language is generally accurate and appropriate for an academic report. To improve, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to data trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'remained stable'. There are no significant errors in word choice that impede communication, but the range is somewhat limited to basic descriptive terms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While most sentences are clear, there are some minor grammatical errors, such as 'The graph illustrated' (should be 'illustrates' for a graph that still exists) and 'Retail started it about 6 million' (should be 'at about'). Additionally, there is a tense inconsistency in the fourth paragraph ('Agriculture has' instead of 'had'). Despite these errors, the meaning is always clear, and the grammar does not prevent the reader from understanding the data.

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