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 represents the change in the number of jobs in the the four sectors of the economy; manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare, in the US from the year 1960 to 2020.

According to the graph, number of jobs in the manufacturing and agriculture sectors was overall lower in 2020 compared to 1960, while in retail and healthcare sectors, the number of jobs increased by a vast amount.

The graph shows that the manufacturing sector had the highest number of jobs in 1960, starting at 15 million jobs, compared to the number of jobs retail and agriculture sectors, both starting at 6 million jobs. The healthcare sector had the least amount of jobs in the 4, starting at only around 2.5 million jobs in 1960.

The number of jobs in manufacturing sector rose vastly, having 20 million jobs in the year 1980, before slowly declining to less than 15 million in 2020. Both the healthcare and Retails sectors got a significant rise in the number of jobs, reaching 16 million jobs in the year 2020, while the number in agriculture sector only declined, dropping to just about 2 million in the year 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by providing an overview of the changes in the four US economic sectors between 1960 and 2020. The student correctly selects and reports the main features, such as the overall decline in manufacturing and agriculture, contrasted with the growth in retail and healthcare. Key data points are cited to support the description, including the starting figures in 1960 and final figures in 2020. While a few more precise comparative figures could have been included for mid-period trends, the key information is well covered. Overall, the response meets the criteria for Band 6.5 to 7.0, showing a clear overview and appropriate selection of data throughout the report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The text demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with a logical progression of ideas from an introductory paraphrase to specific body paragraphs detailing starting points and subsequent trends. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different features of the graph. Cohesive devices are employed, such as 'According to the graph', 'while', and 'before slowly declining', though referencing and transitions can occasionally feel a bit mechanical. For instance, sentences within the third and fourth paragraphs could be linked more fluidly. Despite these minor lapses, the logical organisation is clear throughout, aligning well with the descriptors for Band 6.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, with appropriate topic-specific terminology such as 'manufacturing', 'retail', 'agriculture', and 'healthcare'. The student attempts some less common vocabulary and lexical phrases like 'vast amount', 'significant rise', and 'slowly declining'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'the the four sectors', 'least amount of jobs' instead of 'fewest number of jobs', and capitalization errors like 'Retails'. Spelling is otherwise accurate. The range of vocabulary is sufficient to allow communication, though occasional lexical errors place this firmly in the Band 6.0 category.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including participial phrases and subordinate clauses (e.g., 'starting at 15 million jobs, compared to...'). There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings present, such as missing articles ('number of jobs in the manufacturing sector'), minor preposition errors, and awkward constructions like 'having 20 million jobs in the year 1980'. However, these errors rarely impede communication, and the meaning remains clear throughout the response. The balance of simple and complex forms alongside frequent understandable sentences supports a Band 6.0 score.

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