Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

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, agriculture line showed a steady decrease over the period and reached its lowest point in 2020 . As for manifacturing number of jobs it climbed quickly from 15 to 20 between 1960 and 1980 then it went down to reach almost 15 million again

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all four sectors and identifies the main trends, such as the growth in retail and healthcare and the decline in agriculture. However, the analysis of the manufacturing sector is slightly inaccurate; the text mentions it climbed from 15 to 20, but the graph shows it peaking at 25 million. Additionally, the overview is somewhat brief. To reach a higher band, ensure that data points are cited more precisely and that the overview captures the most significant contrasts more comprehensively. The response successfully highlights the key features as required by the task instructions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'in addition', and 'as for' are used to link ideas, although some transitions feel a bit mechanical. The progression of ideas is generally clear, moving from general trends to specific sector details. However, the referencing could be improved; for instance, the use of 'the two lines' is clear, but the overall flow would benefit from more varied linking words to connect the sentences within paragraphs more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'increasing trend', 'decreasing trend', and 'fluctuation'. However, there are several spelling errors, such as 'flactuation' (fluctuation), 'manifacturing' (manufacturing), and 'untill' (until). Additionally, the phrasing 'job 's numbers' is awkward and non-standard. While the range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, the frequent spelling mistakes and minor collocation errors limit the score. Using more precise academic vocabulary, such as 'upward trajectory' or 'plummeted', would enhance the quality of the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, including missing articles ('in 1960 number of job'), incorrect verb forms ('they continue to rose'), and punctuation issues (spaces before commas). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the main message, they are frequent enough to impact the overall accuracy. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage, as the report should primarily use the past tense to describe the historical data provided in the graph.

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