Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-13

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 graph shows how many jobs were available in four economic sectors in the US from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, the number of jobs in manufacturing and agriculture sectors decreased over the period, whereas it increased in retail and healthcare. Jobs availability in healthcare experienced a substantial growth.

The number of Jobs in maufacturing sector were the highest between 1960 and until around 2013. There were 15 million jobs in 1960 before increasing to reach a peak of 20 million in 1980, followed by a steady decline afterwards to approximately 13 million in 2020. A similar downward trend was observed in the agriculture sector, in 1960, just over 5 million jobs available in before falling to around 2.5 million in 1980 and remianed around this figure until reached roughly 2 million in 2020, making it the sector with lowest job available.

On the other hand , the other two sectors witnessed a significant growth in job availablility. In1960, retail had just above 5 million similar to agriculture, this figure showed a gradual rise to reach 15 million in 2000. by around 2013, the number of job offers in this sector had overtaken the maufacturing, providing the largest job number by 2020. A similar growth was observed in healthcare, there was about 2 million jobs in 1960, rising steadily double (5 million) in 1980, followed by sharp growth in job avialability unil reached just over 5 million by 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by providing a clear overview of the main trends and making relevant comparisons across the four economic sectors between 1960 and 2020. The response outlines the overall declines in manufacturing and agriculture alongside the growth in retail and healthcare. Key features, such as manufacturing peaking in 1980 at 20 million and retail overtaking manufacturing by 2013, are accurately highlighted and supported with data from the graph. While there are a few minor numerical inaccuracies in the final paragraph regarding healthcare figures, the core features of the visual data are well-selected, presented, and adequately developed. The response meets all the requirements for a Band 6.5 to 7.0 task achievement level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organised with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introductory paragraph, followed by an overview paragraph, a body paragraph detailing the declining sectors, and a final body paragraph discussing the growing sectors. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'whereas', 'On the other hand', and 'A similar downward trend' are employed to connect ideas, though referencing and transitions are occasionally mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'by around 2013, the number of job offers in this sector had overtaken the maufacturing'. Overall, the logical structure and cohesive flow are clear and easy to follow, aligning well with a Band 6.5 score.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for the task, successfully using terms such as 'economic sectors', 'substantial growth', 'gradual rise', and 'downward trend'. There are some attempts to use less common vocabulary, but these are occasionally marred by spelling errors such as 'maufacturing' instead of manufacturing, and minor word choice or collocation slips like 'Jobs availability' and 'lowest job available'. However, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the message clearly, and the spelling errors do not impede communication. This performance reflects the criteria for Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including relative clauses and subordinate structures like 'The line graph shows how many jobs were available...' and 'whereas it increased in retail and healthcare.' There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings throughout the text, such as 'The number of Jobs in maufacturing sector were the highest' (subject-verb agreement error), 'in 1960, just over 5 million jobs available in before falling' (missing verb/preposition error), and 'rising steadily double (5 million) in 1980' (awkward structure). Despite these recurring errors in grammar and punctuation, they rarely impede communication, placing the response solidly at Band 6.0.

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