Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-03

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)

This graph illustrates the information of the number of jobs in four different sectors of the economy of the US from 1960 to 2020. The number of jobs increases and decreases in the economy of the US.

In the manufacturing sector the number of jobs grew from 1960 to 2020, and after that the jobs decreased in this sector. In the retail sector the number of jobs rises, and there is no economy default in this sector, and the economy grows in the retail sector of the US. In the agriculture sector, the jobs decrease until 1980; after that, they remain constant until 2000, and after that, these numbers again decrease. In the healthcare sector, the economy of the US grows very perfectly, and the number of jobs increases in this sector with the passage of time.

Overall, this graph shows the jobs' opportunities in the US economy sector from 1960 to 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to adequately address the task requirements. While it mentions the four sectors, the description of the data is inaccurate and lacks specific figures or trends. For example, the claim that manufacturing jobs 'grew from 1960 to 2020' is vague and fails to highlight the peak or the decline. Furthermore, the analysis is superficial; it does not compare the sectors effectively or identify the main features, such as the significant growth in healthcare compared to the decline in agriculture. The response lacks the necessary data-driven support required for an Academic Task 1 report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organized into a basic introduction, body, and conclusion, but the progression of ideas is weak. Cohesive devices are used in a very mechanical and repetitive way, such as the frequent use of 'after that' and 'in this sector'. The paragraphing is insufficient, as the body paragraph is a single block of text that lacks logical flow between the different sectors. Referencing is sometimes unclear, and the overall structure does not facilitate a smooth reading experience.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying on basic terms like 'jobs', 'economy', and 'grows'. There is a lack of precision in describing trends; for instance, the phrase 'economy default' is misused and unclear in this context. The student struggles to use academic collocations or varied terminology to describe statistical changes (e.g., 'fluctuated', 'peaked', 'remained stable', 'declined'). The range is insufficient to convey the information with the necessary academic tone.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. While there are some attempts at complex sentences, they are often awkward or grammatically incorrect, such as 'the economy of the US grows very perfectly'. There are frequent errors in tense usage and word order, which occasionally make the meaning difficult to follow. Punctuation is basic, and the lack of variety in sentence construction limits the ability to present the data clearly.

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