Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The graph on the eft side of the page demonstrates the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in US in years [redacted phone].
Considering the healthcare sector, there was an increase of approximately 2-5 millions in the number of jobs from 1960 to 1980. However in the year 2000, the count reached to nearly 11 million. This was a significant increase in the number of jobs. Moreover, in the years between 2000 and 2020 , there was a dracstic increase in the number of jobs. In 2020, the count reached to an estimate of 16 millions.
As far as the agriculture department is observed, there are certain variations in the graph. The number of jobs begin to fall dramatically. This sudden change was observed in the year 1980 from 6 millions to 3.5 milions. However the decrease remained constant for the next 20 years. But in the era of [redacted phone], comparitively, there was again a drastic decrease in the number of jobs leading to the total count of 2 millions.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to address the task fully. You have only described two of the four sectors (healthcare and agriculture), completely omitting the other two sectors shown in the graph. Furthermore, you have not provided an overview of the main trends, which is a requirement for a high band score in Task 1. While you have selected some data points, the lack of a comprehensive summary and the omission of half the data significantly impacts the score. To improve, ensure you report on all categories provided in the prompt and include a clear introductory overview that highlights the most significant trends across the entire period.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. You use some cohesive devices like 'Moreover' and 'However', but the transitions between sentences are occasionally repetitive. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the phrase 'the graph on the eft side of the page', which is unnecessary as the graph is provided in the task. To improve, focus on using 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
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but there are several spelling errors, such as 'eft' instead of 'left', 'dracstic' instead of 'drastic', and 'milions' instead of 'millions'. You also use some imprecise phrasing, such as 'the count reached to', which is grammatically awkward. While you attempt to use descriptive words like 'significant' and 'dramatically', the range is somewhat limited. To reach a higher band, focus on accurate spelling and using more precise collocations, such as 'the number of jobs rose to' rather than 'the count reached to'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow of the text. For example, 'the number of jobs begin to fall' should be 'began to fall' to maintain consistent past tense. Additionally, 'the count reached to an estimate of 16 millions' is incorrect; it should be 'reached an estimated 16 million'. There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and tense consistency when describing historical data.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.