Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-01

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 graph illustrates the information about the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 to 2020.

We can see that in 1960 there was 15 million jobs in manufacturing sector and it raised about 20 million in 1980 but in 2020 the number of jobs will decline. Although, there are 6 million jobs in retail sector in 1960 and continuously growing highe and higher and stop 16 million jobs in 2020.

Moreover, jobs in agriculture sector starts from 3 million and same as like retail sector they were also steady increase and stop at same number of jobs like retail sector 16 million in 2020. Unfortunately, number of jobs in health

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which severely impacts the task achievement score. Furthermore, the response is incomplete, ending abruptly mid-sentence ('Unfortunately, number of jobs in health'). While you have attempted to identify some trends, the analysis is superficial and lacks a clear overview of the main features. The data points provided are often inaccurate compared to standard interpretations of such graphs, and the failure to complete the report means that the final sector is not addressed at all. To improve, you must ensure you cover all categories provided in the prompt and provide a clear, concise summary of the overall trends before detailing specific data points.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response lacks a logical structure. While there is an attempt at paragraphing, the abrupt ending makes the overall progression unclear. Cohesive devices are used in a very mechanical and repetitive way, such as 'Moreover' and 'Although'. The referencing is sometimes confusing, particularly when comparing the retail and agriculture sectors. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly and ensure that each paragraph has a clear purpose, such as grouping similar trends together rather than listing them one by one.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'continuously growing highe and higher' and 'stop at same number' are informal and imprecise. There are also spelling errors, such as 'highe'. You rely on basic verbs to describe trends, which does not demonstrate the range required for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary for describing trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', 'remained stable', or 'experienced a steady decline'. Expanding your range of synonyms will help you avoid repeating the same words throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'there was 15 million jobs' (subject-verb agreement error), 'it raised about 20 million' (incorrect verb usage; 'rose' is intransitive), and 'starts from 3 million' (tense inconsistency). The sentence structures are predominantly simple, and there is a lack of complex sentence forms. To improve, focus on mastering subject-verb agreement and the correct use of past tense verbs for historical data. Additionally, practice combining simple sentences into more complex structures using relative clauses or subordinating conjunctions.

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

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