Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The line graph illustrates the number of jobs in different sectors of the economy in the US between the time period of 70 years.

In 1960, the number of jobs in healthcare is between 0 to 5 million. on the other hand, the ratio of jobs in healthcare in 2020 is above 15 millions.

As we can see the graph ratio of jobs in agriculture field is about 5 million in 1960. Now in 2020 the graph ratio is decreased below 5 million in agriculture field.

If we talk about the job ratio of retail in 1960, the job ratio is same as agriculture at the same timeline. If we notice the agriculture sector had seen some major increase in jobs and kept increasing until 2020.

Then there is manufacturing sector which already had a nice job ratio since the beginning. It kept increasing until 1980 after the introduction of modern machinery and robots job ratio in this sector declined gradually until 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to cover the four sectors, but it fails to provide a clear overview or highlight the main trends effectively. The description of the data is often inaccurate; for instance, you state that the agriculture sector 'kept increasing until 2020,' whereas the graph shows a decline. Furthermore, the use of the term 'ratio' is incorrect in this context, as the graph displays absolute numbers of jobs. To improve, you must ensure that your data points are accurate and that you provide a summary that captures the most significant changes across the entire period rather than listing individual years in isolation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the progression of ideas is disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'in 1960' and 'in 2020' to start sentences. The transitions between paragraphs are weak, and the logical flow is hindered by the lack of clear comparative language. To reach a higher band, you should use a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect your ideas more fluidly and ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive. You frequently use the word 'ratio' to describe the number of jobs, which is inaccurate; 'number' or 'figure' would be more appropriate. There is little attempt to use less common vocabulary or precise terminology related to data description. Phrases like 'nice job ratio' are informal and lack the precision required for an Academic Task 1 response. You should focus on learning topic-specific vocabulary, such as 'fluctuated,' 'peaked,' 'declined steadily,' or 'remained stable,' to describe trends more effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex sentences, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'the number of jobs... is between 0 to 5 million' (should be 'between 0 and 5 million') and 'the graph ratio of jobs... is decreased' (should be 'the number of jobs decreased'). Subject-verb agreement and preposition usage are inconsistent. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of errors is high enough to distract the reader. Focusing on basic sentence structure and tense consistency will help improve your accuracy.

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