Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-06
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 compares four sectors of the economy in terms of the number of jobs that they produced over a period of 60 years in the UK.
Overall, it is evident that the number of jobs shows a consistent upward trend in retail and healthcare company. Meanwhile, there was a steady decreased in agriculture and manufacturing.
In 1960, manufacturing rose gradually around 15 to 20 millions and then a noticeable declined occurred from 1980 to 2020 which is almost 20 to 11 million jobs . Retail company figure shows a sharp increase over the period that is 7 to 17 millions from 1960 to 2020.
Healthcare sector figure dropped considerably from 7 to 5 millions in 1960 to 1980, while 1980 to 2020 there was a little variation in the number happened. There was a significant rise from over the 60 year period in agriculture sector which begins from 4 millions jobs and climbed at 17 millions which is similar to retail jobs data.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response identifies the main features of the graph, but there are significant inaccuracies in the data reporting. For instance, the student claims agriculture rose to 17 million, whereas the graph shows it remained relatively stable or declined. Additionally, the student incorrectly identifies the country as the UK instead of the US, as stated in the prompt. While the overview is present, the misinterpretation of the data points and the failure to accurately compare the sectors limit the score. The response covers all four sectors, but the lack of factual accuracy regarding the trends prevents it from reaching a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile', 'In 1960', and 'while' are used to link ideas. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes hindered by the inaccurate data reporting, which makes the comparison confusing for the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the internal flow within paragraphs is occasionally mechanical. The use of referencing is generally clear, though the overall structure could be improved by grouping the sectors more logically based on their trends (e.g., those that increased vs. those that decreased).
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'upward trend', 'steady decreased', and 'sharp increase'. However, there are errors in word formation and collocation, such as 'steady decreased' (should be 'steady decrease') and 'retail company figure' (should be 'retail sector figures'). The student attempts to use specific vocabulary related to data description, but the inaccuracies in word choice and the repetition of 'figure' and 'number' limit the range. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the general meaning, but lacks the precision required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'manufacturing rose gradually around 15 to 20 millions' (incorrect preposition and pluralisation) and 'number happened' (awkward phrasing). Subject-verb agreement and tense consistency are also problematic, particularly when describing past trends. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of errors in basic grammar and punctuation is noticeable. The student attempts complex structures, but these are often faulty, which impacts the overall accuracy of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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