Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The multiline chart gives information about the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US within the time frame of 60 years starting from1960 to 2020.
The overall line graph tracks the job variation in the four different sectors such as Manufacturing, Retail, Agriculture, and Health. The lowest number of jobs in 1960 was only just 2 millions in the Healthcare sector and the highest number of jobs in 1960 were 15 millions in Manufacturing sector.
after that the trend of graph was significantly changed from 1960 to 2020.
The trend for the number of jobs in healthcare sector were kept on increasing later on and reached at the number of 15. 2 millions till 2020.
Similarly, line graph for Manufacturing sector has shown fluctuation in which number of jobs was increased to 20 millions in 1980 and then suddenly fall from 20 to 10.6 millions. The jobs for both the Retail and Agriculture sectors were 5.2 millions in 1960 and then there was fluctuation
shown by the graph by which the line graph for Agriculture sector was remained constant till 2020 from 5.2 to just 0.4 millions but the Retail sector shows an increasing trend 1980 to 2000 and then remained constant to 15.1 millions.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
You have successfully identified the main features of the graph and provided relevant comparisons. You covered all four sectors and included data points for 1960 and 2020. However, the report lacks a clear overview paragraph that synthesizes the main trends, which is essential for a higher band. Some data descriptions are slightly inaccurate or confusing, such as the description of the Agriculture sector, which states it remained constant from 5.2 to 0.4 million; these figures are contradictory. To improve, ensure your summary highlights the most significant changes (e.g., the rise of Healthcare versus the decline of Manufacturing) in a dedicated overview paragraph.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate. For example, the transition 'after that the trend of graph was significantly changed' is awkward and lacks precision. Additionally, the referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult to track the progression of ideas between sentences. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that guides the reader through the data analysis.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information, using terms like 'fluctuation,' 'increasing trend,' and 'sectors.' However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and collocation errors, such as 'the trend of graph was significantly changed' instead of 'the trend changed significantly,' and 'reached at the number of 15.2 millions' instead of 'reached 15.2 million.' There are also minor errors in pluralization (e.g., '15 millions'). Focusing on more precise reporting verbs and avoiding unnecessary pluralization of units will enhance your lexical score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'the trend... were kept on increasing') and incorrect preposition usage (e.g., 'reached at the number'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with capitalization and spacing. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic agreement and ensuring that your sentence structures are grammatically sound.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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