Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
The line graph shows information regarding the jobs in four different sectors of the economy in the US upon the period 1960 to 2020.
Overall, the job market in retail and agriculture showed a siginficant growth and boost the economy over the period whilst the number of jobs in manufacturing and healthcare faced declined till the end of the period.
In 1960, manufacturing initially was 15 million vaccancies which was the highest in this sector while the jobs was available in healthcares slightly above 5 million. In 1980, manufacturing reached at the top produced 20 millions and health care below the 5 millions afterward both sectors faced declined and reached below the 15 millions and approximately 1 millions respectively at the end of the period.
Initailly, retail and agriculture was at its lowest above 5 millions jobs and approximately 2 millions produced then it rose whereas in 2000, retail reached at 15 millions then showed a slighlty increased and agriclture boost the economy and reached at the same point as retail occured in 2020 was the highest point reached slightly above 15 millions .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers all four sectors shown in the graph and attempts to make comparisons, fulfilling the core requirements of Task 1. However, the data reporting contains significant inaccuracies and confusion. For instance, the student states that manufacturing reached 20 million in 1980, but the data trajectory and descriptions are at times difficult to follow due to poor phrasing (e.g., mixing up vacancies and job totals). Furthermore, the overview captures general trends, but the lack of precise data handling and inaccurate data points prevent the response from achieving a higher band. It fits the Band 5 descriptor for partially addressing the task with limited and sometimes inaccurate reporting of main features.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organized into four paragraphs, including an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs detailing the data. However, overall progression is hindered by confusing sentence structures and inadequate cohesive devices. Transition phrases are simplistic or misused (e.g., 'Initailly, retail and agriculture was at its lowest... then it rose whereas in 2000...'), resulting in run-on sentences that make logical sequencing difficult to follow. Paragraphing is attempted, but internal cohesion is faulty and repetitive, which aligns closely with the Band 5 descriptors.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is relatively basic and repetitive, with several errors in word choice and spelling (e.g., 'siginficant', 'vaccancies', 'healthcares', 'slighlty increased', 'agriclture'). While the student attempts some less common vocabulary ('boost the economy', 'sectors'), inaccuracies in collocation and word formation are noticeable (e.g., 'faced declined', 'jobs was available in healthcares slightly above'). These lexical limitations and errors cause some difficulty for the reader, placing the response firmly at Band 5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control over grammar is weak. There are frequent errors in subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'manufacturing initially was 15 million vaccancies', 'retail and agriculture was at its lowest') and tense consistency. Punctuation is also problematic, leading to long, rambling sentences with missing conjunctions or incorrect prepositions (e.g., 'reached at the top produced 20 millions'). These frequent errors and faulty complex structures place the grammatical performance at Band 5.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.