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 graph illustrates information relating the number of vacancies in four parts or the economy in the US throughout the period of 60 years.

Overall, all the jobs show fluctuations throughout the period. While, Retail and Healthcare jobs were the highest and manufacturing was at the lowest, but Agriculture remained at the lowest.

In 1960, Manufacturing was accounted at peak with 20 million number of jobs, compared to the Retail at 10 million. Whereas, healthcare and Agriculture were recorded at the lowest with 5 and 2 million

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, reaching only 87 words. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. The overview is present but lacks detail, and the body paragraphs are severely underdeveloped, failing to report on the full period up to 2020 or provide sufficient comparisons. The information provided is incomplete, and the analysis stops abruptly. To improve, you must ensure you cover the entire timeframe and provide a more comprehensive summary of the trends, including the final data points, to meet the length requirement and fully address the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is too short to demonstrate effective paragraphing or a logical progression of ideas. While there is a basic attempt at an introduction and an overview, the lack of a complete body section makes the overall structure fragmented. Cohesive devices are used in a very limited and mechanical way, such as 'Overall' and 'Whereas'. To improve, you should aim to structure your response into clear paragraphs: an introduction, an overview, and at least two body paragraphs that group data logically, using a wider range of linking words to connect your ideas smoothly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, such as the repeated use of 'lowest' and 'number of jobs'. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, for example, 'parts or the economy' (should be 'sectors of the economy') and 'Manufacturing was accounted at peak' (should be 'Manufacturing peaked'). The range of vocabulary is insufficient to demonstrate flexibility or precision. To improve, focus on learning topic-specific vocabulary related to trends, such as 'fluctuate', 'decline', 'surge', or 'plateau', and ensure you use accurate collocations when describing data.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains several grammatical errors that impede clarity. For instance, 'the number of vacancies in four parts or the economy' contains a preposition error, and 'Manufacturing was accounted at peak' is grammatically incorrect. The sentence structure is simplistic, and there is a lack of complex sentence forms. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly in the final sentence which is incomplete. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence structures and proofreading for subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage. Aim to incorporate a mix of simple and complex sentences to demonstrate a wider grammatical range.

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