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 jobs number in four different fields of united states’ 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 the agriculture line showed a decreasing trend .In addition the manufacturing line showed also a significant drop with a fluctuation.

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

As for the other categories, the 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 in 1960 to 20 in 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 regarding the data points (e.g., stating it climbed to 20 million when the graph shows a different peak). While the main features are highlighted, the overview could be more precise. The response successfully selects and reports the key information, but the lack of precision in data interpretation prevents it from reaching a higher band. Overall, the task is addressed adequately.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response 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. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel slightly abrupt. The referencing is generally clear, though the paragraphing could be improved by ensuring that the comparison between sectors is more integrated rather than listing them separately. The overall progression is logical and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'increasing trend', 'decreasing trend', and 'fluctuation'. However, there are some spelling errors, such as 'manifacturing' and 'untill', and some awkward phrasing like 'jobs number'. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band. To improve, the student should focus on more varied collocations and ensure accurate spelling of key terms related to the graph.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, including missing articles ('the united states'), incorrect verb tenses ('they continues'), and punctuation issues (spacing before commas). These errors do not impede communication, but they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. The student demonstrates a basic control of grammar, but more attention to subject-verb agreement and punctuation is needed to achieve a higher band.

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

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