Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The graph depicts the information regarding the number of jobs in four different sectors of the economy in the US from 1960 to 2020 resepectively.
Overall, it is evident from the information that the dominant contributor of jobs sector had retail as healthcare in US, whereas the least significant share of jobs sector was manufacturing and agriculture throughout the period.
The first and foremost job sector was manufacturing which stood at 15 millions in 1960 and significantly climbed upto 20 millions in 1980. In conversely the dramatically dwindled to 13 million at the end of 2020. Moreover, the jobs sectors in retail was accounts for 5 millions as well as sharply surged upto roughly 16 millions in 2020.
On the other hand, the healthcare of job sector was sky rocketed from 1 millions to approximately 16 millions between 1960 to 2020.Furthermore, the job in agriculture sector recorded at 6 millions in 1960 and gradually plummeted upto 1 millions by the end of the period.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The student successfully identifies and reports the main features and trends of the four sectors shown in the graph over the specified period. An overview is attempted, stating that retail and healthcare were prominent while manufacturing and agriculture had the least significant shares, although the phrasing is slightly confused. Key data points, such as manufacturing reaching 15 million in 1960 and dropping to 13 million by 2020, are included. However, some figures contain factual inaccuracies based on the graph, such as stating manufacturing started at 15 million in 1960 and climbed to 20 million, and there are occasional contradictions in the data reporting. Despite these minor inaccuracies, all parts of the prompt are addressed, fulfilling the requirements for a Band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is organized into four paragraphs, following a logical structure with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs detailing the specific sectors. Cohesive devices are used to connect ideas, such as 'Overall', 'Moreover', and 'On the other hand'. However, referencing and progression are occasionally faulty, and some cohesive links are used mechanically or awkwardly, such as 'In conversely'. Paragraphing is generally handled appropriately, providing a clear overall arrangement that meets the criteria for Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting less common items related to trends and economic sectors, such as 'dramatically dwindled', 'sharply surged', and 'gradually plummeted'. However, there are notable word-choice errors, incorrect lexical forms, and spelling mistakes throughout the text, such as 'resepectively', '15 millions' instead of '15 million', 'accounts for' instead of 'accounted for', and 'sky rocketed'. These errors indicate a limited flexibility and precision, placing the lexical resource securely at a Band 5.5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some attempt at varied structures. However, grammatical accuracy is weak, with frequent errors in verb tenses, prepositions, and singular/plural forms. Examples include 'the dominant contributor of jobs sector had retail as healthcare in US', 'the jobs sectors in retail was accounts for', and 'the healthcare of job sector was sky rocketed'. These errors cause some difficulty for the reader and reflect a lack of control over complex structures, corresponding to a Band 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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