Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The line graph illustrates the data about the number of jobs in four sectors of the US economy from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, the manufacturing sector witnessed an upward trend at the initial stage before falling after reaching a peak in one period, while the retail and healthcare sectors followed an upward trajectory, but the agriculture field presented a downward trajectory.

Firstly, the manufacturing sector revealed significant growth and jumped from 15 million jobs in 1960 to 20 million in 1980. The retail sector experienced a gradual rise from 6 million in 1960 to 10 million in 1980. Additionally, the agriculture sector displayed a sharp decline and moved from 6 million in 1960 to 3 million in 1980. The healthcare category surpassed the agriculture sector and rose from 2 million in 1960 to 5 million in 1980.

In addition, the manufacturing sector witnessed a sharp decline and reduced from 17 million in 2000 to 13 million in 2020. Moreover, the retail sector followed an upward trend and stood at 15 million in 2000, while surpassing the manufacturing industry and climbing to 16 million in 2020. Furthermore, the healthcare sector showed steady growth and accounted for 11 million jobs in 2000, but it surpassed the manufacturing class and contributed 16 million jobs at the end of the period. In contrast, the agriculture sector showcased a plateaued trend and stayed at 3 million in 2000 as compared to 2 million at the end of the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. You covered all four sectors and made relevant comparisons, such as noting when the healthcare sector surpassed agriculture and manufacturing. The data is accurately reported, and the key features are well-highlighted. To reach a higher band, ensure that your overview is more distinct and perhaps synthesizes the information more effectively rather than just listing trends. You have clearly addressed all parts of the prompt and provided a well-developed summary of the provided graph.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and two body paragraphs that group the data chronologically. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'In addition', 'Moreover', and 'In contrast' helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different time periods. The flow is generally smooth, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical. To improve, try to vary the linking phrases further to ensure the cohesion feels more natural and less formulaic.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'upward trajectory', 'sharp decline', and 'plateaued trend' are well-chosen and appropriate for an Academic Task 1 response. There are occasional minor issues with word choice, such as 'manufacturing class' or 'agriculture field', which are slightly unnatural in this context. However, the vocabulary is generally precise enough to communicate the trends effectively without causing any confusion for the reader. You have successfully used sector-specific terminology.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. Most of your sentences are clear and error-free, though there are occasional minor slips, such as 'illustrates the data about' (which is slightly redundant) and 'reached a peak in one period' (which is vague). Your control of tense is consistent, and punctuation is generally accurate. To achieve a higher band, aim to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as relative clauses or participle phrases, to enhance the sophistication of your writing.

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

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