Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The graph illustrates the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US, in the year 1960 till 2020 in which all the data is in figures.Overall, healthcare was dominant, however Agriculture was lowest.

Looking first at healthcare, the figure increased steadily from 1 million in 1960 to 15 million in 2020. In contrast, Agriculture started at 5 million and declined gradually to approximately 1 million over the same time period.

Turning to other figures, jobs in retail sector increased slowly from 5 million in 1960 to 15 million in 2020. Whereas, manufacturing industry saw a spike in 1980 from 15 million to 20 million but it declined gradually from 20 million to 12 million in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While you have identified the main trends for the four sectors, the analysis is quite brief and lacks the depth required for a higher band. You have successfully selected the main features, such as the growth in healthcare and retail and the decline in agriculture, but the under-length nature of the response means that the information is not fully developed. To improve, ensure you provide a more detailed overview and expand on the comparisons between the sectors throughout the 60-year period.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a brief overview. You have used some basic cohesive devices such as 'Looking first at', 'In contrast', and 'Turning to', which help the reader follow the progression of ideas. However, the paragraphing is somewhat mechanical, and the transitions between the sectors could be more sophisticated. To improve, try to vary your linking phrases and ensure that each paragraph flows more naturally into the next, rather than just listing the data for each sector in isolation.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to describe trends such as 'increased steadily', 'declined gradually', and 'saw a spike'. However, the range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. You rely on basic verbs to describe changes. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate a wider range of precise lexical items, such as 'fluctuated', 'plummeted', 'surged', or 'remained relatively stable'. Additionally, ensure you use more varied terminology to refer to the data points rather than repeating 'million' frequently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the grammar is generally clear and does not impede communication, there are some minor errors, such as the phrasing 'in the year 1960 till 2020' and the slightly awkward 'in which all the data is in figures'. The punctuation is generally correct, but the sentence variety is limited. To improve, try to incorporate more complex sentence structures, such as using relative clauses or participial phrases to combine information about the different sectors more fluidly.

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

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