Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-12

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 chart compares the four sectors of the United states' economy in terms of the number of jobs opportunities they created over a period of 60 years.

The manufacturing and agriculture sectors saw a decline in the number of vocancies they created between 1960 and 2020. While the other two sectors created more jobs in 2020 as compare to 1960.

In 1960, the manufaturing sector offered 15 million jobs and it was more than the the number of jobs that other three sectors creted collectively at that time. Both the retail and agriculture sectors were equally taking part in the US economy by giving 6 million jobs to the citizens while, the healthcare sector remained at the lower end in producing jobs since it only hired almost 2 million workers.

The manufacturing sector was at it's peak in 1980 as it created 20 million jobs, almost 5 million increase in 20 years. Subsequently, it started reducing the number of employees and the trend continued till the end of 2020 in which it offered almost 13 million jobs. On the other hand, both the retail and healthcare sectors dramatically increased the employeement opportunities and at end of 2020 both sectors hired almost 16 million employees. Agriculture sector lessens the number of workers and hired only 2 million employees in 2020 which is equavilent to the healthcare sector's workforce in 1960.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully covers all parts of the prompt by presenting an overview of the four economic sectors in the US between 1960 and 2020. You selected and reported the main features and made relevant comparisons, such as noting that the manufacturing sector in 1960 'was more than the number of jobs that other three sectors created collectively.' The data is accurately cited, with specific figures provided for key years like 1960, 1980, and 2020. While there is a minor grammatical fragment ('While the other two sectors created more jobs in 2020 as compare to 1960'), the overall task is fully addressed with well-supported, relevant ideas and a clear comparative overview.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organised with a clear overall progression. Ideas are divided into appropriate paragraphs, starting with an introductory overview, moving to general trends, followed by specific figures for 1960, and concluding with the 1980 peak and 2020 end-points. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well, such as 'On the other hand' and 'Subsequently', though there are some slight mechanical links ('Both the retail and agriculture sectors... while, the healthcare sector...'). Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, guiding the reader smoothly through the comparative data.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow for flexibility and precision, using appropriate terms related to data trends such as 'decline', 'peak', 'dramatically increased', and 'workforce'. There are some minor word choice and spelling errors, such as 'vocancies' instead of 'vacancies', 'manufaturing', 'creted', 'employeement', and 'equavilent'. However, these do not impede communication, and you successfully attempt less common lexical items ('collectively', 'subsequently', 'opportunities'), aligning well with Band 6 criteria.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over relative clauses and comparative structures (e.g., 'The line chart compares... in terms of the number of jobs opportunities they created...'). There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, such as 'as compare to' instead of 'compared to', 'it's peak' instead of 'its peak', and 'Agriculture sector lessens' instead of 'The agriculture sector reduced'. Punctuation is generally acceptable, but frequent minor inaccuracies prevent a higher score, placing this solidly in the Band 6 range.

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