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 line graph provides key information about job ´s numbers in four different fields of united state’s economy from 1960 to 2020.The units are measured in millions

Overall, it is clear from the data that the number of jobs in retail and healthcare showed an increasing trend ,whereas agriculture line showed a decreasing trend .In addition manufacturing line showed also a significant drop with a flactuation.

As can be seen from the graph , in 1960 number of job in retail was higher than healthcare . the two lines rose rapidly between 1960 and 2000 then they continue to rose slightly untill they reached a peak of almost 15 million in 2020

As for the other categories

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. Furthermore, the response is incomplete; it stops abruptly after introducing the final categories, failing to provide any data or analysis for the manufacturing and agriculture sectors. While the overview identifies some trends, the lack of data for half the categories and the failure to complete the task mean that the requirements are only partially addressed. To improve, you must ensure all parts of the prompt are covered and provide a complete summary of the data presented in the graph.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organized into short paragraphs, but the progression is interrupted by the incomplete nature of the text. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In addition', and 'As can be seen' are used to link ideas, but the abrupt ending makes the overall structure feel disjointed. The referencing is generally clear, but the lack of a concluding section or a full analysis of all four sectors prevents the development of a logical flow. To improve, ensure that each paragraph is fully developed and that the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is smooth and complete.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for basic description but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. You used terms like 'increasing trend' and 'decreasing trend' correctly, but there are errors in word formation and spelling, such as 'job ´s numbers' and 'flactuation'. The range is limited, and the repetition of 'line' and 'number of jobs' suggests a need for more varied synonyms to describe trends and data points. Expanding your vocabulary to include more sophisticated reporting verbs and nouns related to economic data will help improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation. Examples include 'united state’s economy' (should be 'the US economy'), 'job ´s numbers', and 'they continue to rose' (should be 'continued to rise'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with misplaced spaces before periods. While the meaning is generally understandable, these errors are frequent enough to distract the reader. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct tense usage—especially when describing past trends—will be essential for improvement.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.