Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)
The line graph tracks the change in the number of jobs in four fields of economy in the US between 1960 and 2020.
Overall, total jobs in healthcare increased significantly in the given time period whereas the jobs in the agriculture sector dropped the most in comparison to the other fields. In 2020, healthcare and retail sectors had the most jobs with 16 million each.
The manufacturing domain had its peak in 1980 with 20 million jobs. Its numbers declined over time and reached 13 million in 2020. The agriculture sector faced continuous decline from 1960 to 2020. In 2020, the agriculture sector jobs were merely around 2 million, least number in the graph. Healthcare field jobs were around 3 million in 1960. Linear growth was observed in this field with the numbers increasing to 15 million at the end of 2020. The retail sector experienced somewhat same type of growth. The jobs in this sector were 6 million in 1960, growing over time and reaching 15 million in 2020.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response successfully covers all parts of the task by identifying the main trends and making relevant comparisons across the four economic sectors. The overview clearly highlights the significant growth in healthcare and the sharp drop in agriculture, which sets up the data effectively. Specific data points, such as manufacturing peaking at 20 million in 1980 and healthcare and retail both reaching 15 or 16 million by 2020, are accurately cited and reported. The information is well-selected, ensuring the reader gets a comprehensive summary of the visual data without unnecessary clutter. Therefore, this meets the criteria for a high band by effectively balancing overall trends with key supporting figures.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The response demonstrates clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information is grouped sensibly, with the introduction followed by an effective overall summary paragraph, and then detailed body paragraphs that contrast the trajectories of different sectors. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate general trends from specific data points. Cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'over time', and 'in comparison to' are employed to connect ideas, though the transitional links between sentences could occasionally be more varied. Overall, the essay flows smoothly and is easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The student uses an adequate and appropriate range of vocabulary for the task. Words and phrases such as 'tracks the change', 'significant growth', 'continuous decline', and 'linear growth' demonstrate a satisfactory control of topic-specific language. There are occasional slight awkwardnesses in collocation or word choice, such as 'fields of economy' instead of 'sectors of the economy', and 'somewhat same type of growth' instead of 'a similar pattern of growth'. However, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning precisely and flexibly enough to achieve the task requirements without causing confusion.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The writer employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating introductory clauses and comparative structures. There are several error-free sentences, showing good control of basic past and present tense forms necessary for describing historical trends (e.g., 'The manufacturing domain had its peak in 1980'). However, minor grammatical slips occur, such as the omission of articles ('least number in the graph' instead of 'the least number') and slight prepositional inaccuracies ('jobs in four fields of economy'). These errors are non-systematic and rarely impede communication, allowing the reader to grasp the intended meaning clearly.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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