Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-11

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 number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, retail and healthcare showed an upward trend, while manufacturing experienced a dramatic decline. Meanwhile, agricultural jobs decreased steadily. Retail recorded the highest figures, whereas agriculture had the lowest throughout the period.

From 1960 to 2020, retail stood at 6%,while healthcare was slightly lower at 3%. Retail then increased sharply to 10%, and then went up to 15%, by final year reached 16%. Similarly, healthcare rose from 3% to 5%, and then grew to 11%, finally reached 16% same as retail.

Turning to manufacturing and agriculture, manufacturing started at 15% in 1960 and experienced an upward trend at 20% in 1980, and then it went down to 17% in 2000 and dropped to 14% in 2020. In contrast, agriculture stood at 6% in 1960, fell to 3% in 1980, and then declined to 2% and 1% from 2000 to 2020

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response successfully identifies the main trends and provides a clear overview. You have selected key features, such as the upward trend in retail and healthcare and the decline in manufacturing and agriculture. However, the data reporting is slightly inconsistent. For instance, you state that retail stood at 6% in 1960, but the graph shows it starting at a different point. Additionally, the description of the manufacturing trend is somewhat confusing, as you mention an upward trend to 20% in 1980, which is accurate, but the subsequent description of the decline could be more precise. To improve, ensure that the data points cited align perfectly with the visual information provided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on the different sectors. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile', 'Similarly', and 'In contrast' to link ideas. However, the flow between sentences in the third paragraph is slightly mechanical. The transition between the data points could be smoother to improve the overall progression of the argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow, which is a strength of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'upward trend', 'dramatic decline', and 'steadily'. There is some attempt to use less common vocabulary, though some phrasing is repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'reached' and 'stood at'. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more varied reporting verbs and nouns to describe the movement of the data, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'remained stable'. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly without any significant errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the grammar is generally accurate, there are some minor punctuation errors, such as missing spaces after commas (e.g., '6%,while'). There are also some awkward phrasings, such as 'by final year reached 16%'. To improve, focus on ensuring that your complex sentences are grammatically sound and that you maintain consistent subject-verb agreement. The errors present do not impede communication, but more variety in sentence structure would enhance the quality of your writing.

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