Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-05

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)

This line line graph illustrates the number of jobs in the Us in four sectors of the economy in year of 1960 and 2020 which includes manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare.

Overall, in 1980 manufacturing sector of economy of US were in peak. However, field of agriculture remained the lowest one throughout the period.

To begin with, there were 15 millions jobs available in 1960 under manufacturing department which showed 5% rose in 1980 then, dramatically decreased by 15% in 2020. Furthermore, agriculture initiated its jobs with 6 million seats but, by the time it gradually declined 3-4% in the last given year.

While, retail and healthcare job sector of economy in the US showed constant trend in the graph. This represented same number of jobs as 16 million in year 2020 which slowly increased from initial period by 6 million jobs by retail sectors and by 2 million jobs in healthcare sector.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the four sectors and identifies some main features, such as the peak in manufacturing and the low status of agriculture. However, the reporting of data is often inaccurate or confusing. For example, stating that manufacturing showed a '5% rose' in 1980 and a '15% decrease' in 2020 is not supported by the visual data provided. Additionally, the description of the retail and healthcare trends is unclear, as the text claims they reached the 'same number of jobs' in 2020, which is difficult to verify against the provided graph. The overview is present but lacks sufficient clarity regarding the overall trends.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or misused, such as 'To begin with' and 'While' at the start of sentences where they do not logically connect the ideas. The progression of information is somewhat disjointed, particularly in the final paragraph where the comparison between retail and healthcare is confusingly phrased. Referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult to track which sector the writer is discussing at certain points.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The range of vocabulary is limited and often repetitive. There are several instances of awkward word choices and non-standard collocations, such as '15 millions jobs', 'manufacturing department', and 'seats' to refer to job positions. The phrasing 'constant trend' is also used incorrectly to describe sectors that are clearly showing growth. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic topic, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'manufacturing sector... were in peak'), article usage (e.g., 'in year of 1960'), and sentence structure. The attempt to use complex sentences is often undermined by these errors, such as in the phrase 'which showed 5% rose in 1980 then, dramatically decreased'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma placement. The range of structures is limited, relying heavily on simple or poorly constructed complex sentences.

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.