Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-02

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

Overall, the manufacturing and agriculture jobs starts declining after some years. And retail and healthcare jobs recorded in inclining trend over the years.

In 1960, the manufacturing jobs stood at the 15 million jobs and this figure rose steadily at 20 million jobs by 1980. Retail jobs also showed a gradual increase, climbing from roughly 6 million jobs to about 16 million jobs over the 60 years.

Moreover, agriculture jobs began at roughly 3 million jobs in 1960 and although it fluctuated slightly upward at around 15 million jobs in 2020. And the healthcare jo

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 ('And the healthcare jo'). While you have attempted to identify some trends, the analysis is superficial and fails to cover all data points provided in the graph. To improve, you must ensure you provide a complete overview, include all four sectors, and meet the minimum word count to allow for a full development of the main features and comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response shows some basic attempts at paragraphing and logical sequencing, such as using 'Overall' to introduce the summary. However, the abrupt ending and the lack of sufficient length make it difficult to assess the overall flow and cohesion effectively. The use of cohesive devices is limited and somewhat mechanical. To achieve a higher score, ensure that each paragraph is fully developed and that you use a wider range of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly throughout the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is adequate for basic communication but lacks the range and precision required for a higher band. You rely on repetitive phrasing such as 'jobs' and 'at around'. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'inclining trend' instead of 'upward trend'. To improve, try to incorporate more varied terminology related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'remained stable', and ensure you use collocations correctly to describe economic trends.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains several grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'manufacturing and agriculture jobs starts declining') and incorrect preposition usage. There is a limited range of sentence structures, and the incomplete final sentence makes it impossible to evaluate your control over complex structures. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring subject-verb agreement, and proofreading for punctuation and tense consistency. Aim to incorporate a mix of simple and complex sentences to demonstrate a wider grammatical range.

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

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