Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-09

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 6.0)

The line graph illustrates the employment levels, in millions, across four industries in the United States between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, employment in the retail and healthcare industries increased significantly over the period, while the manufacturing and agriculture industries experienced a gradual decline. Manufacturing had the highest number of employees at the beginning, whereas agriculture had the lowest.

In 1960, around 20 million people were employed in the manufacturing industry. However, this figure gradually decreased and reached approximately 13 million by 2020. Similarly, employment in agriculture fell from about 6 million in 1960 to only 2 million in 2020.

In contrast, the retail and healthcare industries showed an upward trend. Their employment levels increased gradually, particularly from 1980 onwards. By 2020, both industries had reached around 15 million employees. Overall, the graph shows a clear shift from manufacturing and agriculture towards retail and healthcare over the 60-year period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the graph, identifying the trends for all four sectors. However, the response is 148 words long, which is slightly under the 150-word minimum requirement. This minor omission impacts the task achievement score. While the overview is clear and the data is generally accurate, the analysis could be more detailed by including more specific data points or comparing the sectors more dynamically to ensure the word count requirement is met and the task is fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs. There is a logical progression from the introduction to the overview, followed by body paragraphs that group the declining and increasing sectors effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Similarly', and 'However' are used appropriately to guide the reader. The paragraphing is sufficient and contributes to the overall clarity of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with accurate use of terms like 'employment levels', 'upward trend', and 'gradual decline'. The range is sufficient to convey the information clearly. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more sophisticated or varied vocabulary to describe the trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'plateaued', or 'surpassed', rather than relying on simpler descriptors like 'increased' or 'decreased'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writing demonstrates a good level of grammatical control. There is a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, and the majority of sentences are error-free. Punctuation is used correctly throughout. The grammar does not impede communication, and the tone is appropriate for an academic report. The student shows a solid grasp of tense usage, particularly in describing past trends and the state of the economy over the specified period.

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.