Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-04

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 represented graph compares four different professions people preferred in the America between the year 1960 and 2020.

Overall, it is evident that manufacturing sector experienced rapid growth in first 20 years and however, individual's preference steadily declined throughout the remaining years. Even though retail and agricultural jobs were comparatively started at low, they gained steady popularity. Whereas healthcare jobs preference decreased gradually.

Firstly, individuals were largely engaged in construction, which made it the most popular choice among all other sectors by engaging 15 million employes in 1960. This number significantly rose by 5 million in 1980 however, this number constantly dropped throughout the remaining year and was sitting approximately at 9 million by 2020.

Secondly, retails and agriculture experienced similar upwards trend, they started at 5 million and

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response is significantly under the 150-word minimum, which severely limits the ability to fully address the task. While you have attempted to identify some trends, the response is incomplete, cutting off mid-sentence in the second body paragraph. Consequently, you have failed to report on all four sectors or provide a complete summary of the data. To reach a higher band, you must ensure all parts of the prompt are addressed, including a clear overview and sufficient data points to support your descriptions. The current lack of completion prevents a full analysis of the trends and comparisons required for this task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay shows some attempt at logical organization through the use of transition signals like 'Firstly' and 'Secondly'. However, the abrupt ending makes it impossible to judge the overall progression of the text. Paragraphing is attempted, but the incomplete nature of the final paragraph disrupts the flow. To improve, ensure that each paragraph is fully developed and that cohesive devices are used to link ideas smoothly throughout the entire response. The current structure is fragmented due to the unfinished state of the writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

You demonstrate a basic range of vocabulary, such as 'rapid growth', 'steadily declined', and 'upwards trend', which is appropriate for the task. However, there are errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'people preferred in the America' (should be 'in America') and 'jobs preference decreased' (should be 'preference for jobs decreased'). The vocabulary is sufficient to convey simple information but lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. Expanding your range of topic-specific vocabulary and focusing on accurate collocations will help improve your score in this area.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'manufacturing sector experienced' (missing an article), 'comparatively started at low' (should be 'started at a low level'), and 'remaining year' (should be 'remaining years'). Punctuation and article usage are inconsistent throughout the text. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors indicates a limited control over complex structures. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles will significantly enhance the accuracy of your writing.

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

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