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 line graph illustrates information on the number of employment of 4 sectors (manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and healthcare) of economy in the US from 1980 to 2020.

Overall, manufacturing has the highest proportion of jobs among all these mentioned economy sector. on the other hand, the least number of jobs reported for agricultre.

Manufacturing i the highest number of jobs rom the start of 1960 at 15 million, sharply increased to 20 in1980 before declining to below 15 in 2020. Furthermore, the number of jobs of retail started just over 5 in 1960 and it is gradually increased to 15 million in 2000, and after that it improved slightly.

In contrast, healthcare recorded the least number of jobs in 1960 by around three million, it sharply increased to 5 million in 1980, healthcare recorded approximately 15 million . In addition, agriculture showed above five million went to 10 million in 1980 and slightly improve to above 15 in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main features of the graph, but there are significant inaccuracies in data reporting. For instance, you state that manufacturing started at 15 million in 1960, whereas the graph shows it starting lower. Furthermore, the description of healthcare and agriculture trends is confusing and contradicts the visual data provided. While you identify the sectors and provide an overview, the lack of precision in interpreting the figures prevents a higher score. To improve, ensure you carefully cross-reference your written data with the graph axes to avoid factual errors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally misused, such as the transition 'Furthermore' which does not logically connect the ideas. The progression of information is sometimes disjointed, particularly in the final paragraph where the jump between healthcare and agriculture is abrupt. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would enhance the flow of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

You demonstrate a basic range of vocabulary related to trends, such as 'sharply increased' and 'declining'. However, there are several errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'agricultre' and 'rom' instead of 'from'. The repetition of 'number of jobs' throughout the text limits your lexical variety. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise synonyms for growth and decline, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'remained stable', and ensure you proofread for basic spelling mistakes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'Manufacturing i the highest' (missing verb), 'proportion of jobs among all these mentioned economy sector' (pluralization error), and run-on sentences like 'healthcare recorded the least number of jobs in 1960 by around three million, it sharply increased...'. These errors in subject-verb agreement and punctuation are frequent. Focusing on basic sentence construction and ensuring each sentence has a clear subject and verb will improve your accuracy.

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

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