Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The given line graph provides the data on the number of jobs in four economic sectors in the US between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, the manufacturing sectors had highest jobs in starting that peaked at 25 million and then declined. Manufacturing and Healthcare sector had shown a significant growth throughout the period.

Starting with jobs related to manufacturing was highest in 1960 around 15 million, that peaked at 20 million in 1980 the highest amount of jobs in the graph. After that the numbers decreased to approximately 13 million in 2020. However, Healthcare sectors starting from lowest about 2 million in 1960 increased to 5 million in 1980 and then after showing a sharp increase to 16 million in 2020.

Same goes with the Retail sector, at start the number was a low at 6 million, then they gradually increased to 16 million in 2020 equal to healthcare. However, the Agriculture sector started at same numbers of jobs to retail sector 6 million in 1980 and the numbers gradually decreased to roughly 2.5 million in 2020, the lowest figure in the graph

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the graph, identifying the trends for the four sectors. However, there are significant inaccuracies in the data reporting. For example, you state that manufacturing peaked at 20 million in 1980, whereas the graph shows it peaking earlier. Furthermore, the overview is contradictory; you mention manufacturing had the 'highest jobs' initially but then state it declined, while also incorrectly claiming manufacturing showed 'significant growth'. The overview needs to be more accurate and clearly highlight the key trends (e.g., the rise of service-based sectors versus the decline of agriculture and manufacturing). The data points provided are often imprecise or misread, which limits the effectiveness of the summary.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally confusing. For instance, the transition 'Same goes with the Retail sector' is informal and lacks precision. The logical progression between sentences is sometimes hindered by awkward phrasing, such as the abrupt shift in the third paragraph. While there is an attempt to group information, the connections between the data points and the overall trends could be smoother. Improving the use of linking words like 'consequently', 'in contrast', or 'meanwhile' would enhance the flow of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to describe trends such as 'increased', 'decreased', and 'sharp increase'. However, there is a lack of variety and some inaccuracies in word choice. For example, 'highest jobs in starting' is unnatural; 'initial number of jobs' would be better. You also repeat 'numbers' and 'sector' frequently. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise terminology related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'plateaued', or 'surpassed', and avoid repetitive phrasing. The errors in word choice do not prevent communication, but they do limit the sophistication of the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'Manufacturing and Healthcare sector had shown') and missing articles (e.g., 'at start the number was a low'). Some sentences are poorly constructed, such as 'Healthcare sectors starting from lowest about 2 million in 1960 increased to 5 million in 1980 and then after showing a sharp increase to 16 million in 2020', which lacks a clear main verb. Focusing on sentence structure and proofreading for basic grammatical slips will help improve your accuracy.

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

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