Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The graph illustrates the number of jobs in four sectors of the US economy between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, employment increased in most sectors over the period, with healthcare and retail experiencing particularly significant growth. In contrast, manufacturing employment declined towards the end of the period.

In 1960, manufacturing accounted for approximately 15 million jobs, making it one of the largest employment sectors. By 1980, the number of manufacturing jobs had increased. However, employment in this sector subsequently declined, falling to approximately 10–15 million jobs by 2020. Agriculture, on the other hand, initially had around 5 million jobs and experienced considerable growth over the period.

The other sectors also showed an overall upward trend. By the 2000s, agriculture had increased to approximately 10–15 million jobs. By 2020, this figure had risen further to around 15–20 million. Healthcare also experienced substantial growth throughout the period, while retail generally increased despite some fluctuations. Overall, the figures indicate that employment expanded considerably in most sectors between 1960 and 2020, whereas manufacturing experienced a decline after reaching its earlier peak.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by providing a clear overview and selecting the main features and trends of the four economic sectors between 1960 and 2020. The opening and summary paragraphs capture the broad trajectories, noting the growth in healthcare and retail alongside the decline in manufacturing. Key data points, such as manufacturing starting around 15 million jobs in 1960, are accurately reported. However, some comparisons and specific data references for the intermediate years are somewhat vague or generalized, such as grouping numbers into ranges like '10-15 million'. Nonetheless, the response covers all parts of the task well and maintains a clear, overall picture of the data, aligning comfortably with the Band 7 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression from the introduction to the overview, body paragraphs, and concluding remarks. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph serving a distinct function. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In contrast', 'By 1980', and 'on the other hand' are utilized effectively to guide the reader through the data and establish clear relationships between the various economic sectors. Referencing is generally clear, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the sequence of changes over the sixty-year period. While cohesion is at times straightforward rather than highly sophisticated, it meets all the requirements for a solid Band 7 score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate and sufficient range of vocabulary for the task. Phrases such as 'particularly significant growth', 'considerable growth', 'overall upward trend', and 'substantial growth' are used appropriately to describe economic trends. There are attempts to incorporate less common lexical items related to graph analysis, and word choices are generally precise enough to convey the intended meaning without impeding communication. Spelling and word formation are accurate throughout the text. Although the vocabulary range does not reach the flexibility required for higher bands, it comfortably satisfies the criteria for Band 6.5 or a solid Band 7, showing good control over standard reporting language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writing features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including subordinate clauses and temporal markers such as 'By 1980, the number of manufacturing jobs had increased' and 'whereas manufacturing experienced a decline after reaching its earlier peak.' The majority of sentences are grammatically accurate, and punctuation is handled correctly throughout. There are only very minor flaws or limitations in structural variety, but grammatical control remains strong, allowing the message to be communicated fluently and without hindrance. This level of grammatical accuracy and range corresponds well to a Band 7 performance.

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