Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-31

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 greph below given information about the number of job in four sectors of the economy in the us between 1960 and 2020

summarise the informtion by selecting and reporting the main features,and make comparisons where relevant

number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the us, [redacted phone]

Here is a model response for IELTS Writing Task 1 based on the graph:

The line graph illustrates the changes in employment numbers across four different sectors in the US—Manufacturing, Retail, Healthcare, and Agriculture—from 1960 to 2020, measured in millions.

Overall, Healthcare and Retail experienced substantial growth over the 60-year period, whereas Manufacturing declined after a mid-term peak, and Agriculture consistently saw the lowest number of jobs with a gradual decrease.

In 1960, Manufacturing was the leading employer with 15 million jobs. This number rose to a peak of 20 million in 1980 before steadily declining to around 13 million by 2020. Conversely, Healthcare started at the lowest figure of approximately 2 million in 1960 but experienced continuous, rapid growth, ultimately surpassing all other sectors to reach roughly 16 million jobs in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response effectively identifies the main trends and provides a clear overview of the data. You have successfully selected key features, such as the growth in Healthcare and the decline in Manufacturing, and made relevant comparisons between the sectors. The inclusion of specific data points (e.g., 15 million in 1960) supports your analysis well. However, the response is incomplete as it stops abruptly after discussing only two of the four sectors. To achieve a higher band, you must ensure all parts of the prompt are addressed by describing the remaining sectors (Retail and Agriculture) to provide a comprehensive summary of the entire graph.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction and an overview paragraph. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Overall,' 'In 1960,' and 'Conversely' helps to guide the reader through the information. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the specific details. While the flow is logical, the sudden ending of the text disrupts the overall coherence of the report. To improve, ensure that the structure is balanced and that all sections of the graph are integrated into the logical progression of the essay.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report, using terms like 'illustrates,' 'substantial growth,' 'mid-term peak,' and 'consistently.' The word choices are generally precise and help convey the trends accurately. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors in the body of the response. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' to show greater flexibility in your lexical range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The grammar is generally accurate, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You have used past and present tenses correctly to describe the historical data and the current state of the graph. Punctuation is handled well, and there are no major errors that impede communication. The sentences are clear and easy to follow. To improve, you could experiment with more complex grammatical structures, such as participial phrases or relative clauses, to further enhance the sophistication of your writing.

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

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