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 illustrates the number of jobs in four sectors of economy in us from 1960 to 2020.
Firstly, lets talk about manufacturing from observation manufacturing was at 15 million in 1960 but after 20 years there was a rise in 1980 which raised to 20 million. The downfall of manufacturing started from 2000 onwards which dropped to 15 million again but on 2020 it drastically dropped to 12 or 13 million which effected the field horribly.
The retail field were at 5 million which is lower in 1960 comparatively to manufacturing. In 1980 it gradually increased to 10 million and again raised to 15 million in 2000. In 2020 the graph is at the highest point and raised to 21 or 22 million. The field of retail increased gradually and attained a good spot.
The field of agriculture at 1960 was at good position 5 million but as time passed it started decreasing grdually in 1980 it went to 4 million and goes on decreasing.
In the health care section the graph went on increasing as of 1960 it was at 0 to 5 million in 1980 it went to 5 million. There was a good increase in 2000 as it reached above 10 million and in 2020 it attained 15 million.
The most successful job is in Healthcare rather than the rest and the agriculture field went in failure.
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 report main features and make comparisons. However, the information presented contains several inaccuracies when compared to standard interpretations of the visual data, such as claiming the healthcare sector started at 0 to 5 million in 1960 or misinterpreting final values in 2020. The overview is weak, consisting only of a brief concluding sentence rather than a distinct summary paragraph outlining overarching trends. Ideas are somewhat limited and lack sufficient extension or precision in data reporting, placing this response at Band 5.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organised into paragraphs, with each focusing on a different sector. However, the progression is disjointed, and the overall structure lacks a proper introduction with an overview. Cohesive devices are very basic and repetitive, heavily relying on time markers like 'In 1960', 'In 1980', and 'In 2000' at the start of sentences. Furthermore, conversational phrases such as 'Firstly, lets talk about manufacturing' disrupt the academic tone. Paragraphing is attempted, but internal cohesion is sometimes faulty, leading to a Band 5 score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is generally basic and repetitive, with frequent reliance on simple verbs like 'raised', 'increased', and 'went to'. There are notable lexical and collocational inaccuracies, such as 'effected the field horribly' instead of 'affected the sector severely', and spelling/morphological issues like 'grdually'. While the range is minimally adequate to convey basic ideas about upward and downward trends, the lack of precision and frequent clumsy phrasing prevent the response from achieving a higher band, placing it at Band 5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but grammatical control is weak. There are frequent punctuation errors, missing articles, and awkward phrasing, such as 'The field of agriculture at 1960 was at good position 5 million' and 'The retail field were at 5 million'. Subject-verb agreement errors ('The retail field were') and run-on structures are present. Although meaning is generally retrievable despite the errors, the high frequency of grammatical slips keeps the performance at a Band 5 level.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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