Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-14

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 line chart illustrates data about the number of employed people in four sectors of the economy in the US from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, manufacturing was the leading sector at the beginning, which climbed for some time, then steadily dropped. Healthcare and retail showed almost the same trend. Nevertheless, agriculture failed to show any upward trajectory.

Looking at the chart, manufacturing started with 15% in 1960 and reached the top value of 20% in 1980. Subsequently, it dropped to 16% by 2020. On the other hand, retail and agriculture, both commenced at the same point of almost 6% but moved in opposite directions over the period. Retail depicted a continuous uptrend and culminated above 15% by the end of 2020.

Contrary to this, agriculture declined to less than 5% in two decades. It leveled off for the next twenty years and again declined to 2% by the end of the duration. However, starting from 2% healthcare surged steadily to the top of the chart joining retail at 16% by the end of the second decade of the 21st century.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response successfully covers all parts of the task by providing a clear overview and reporting the main features of the four economic sectors between 1960 and 2020. The student effectively selects key data points, such as manufacturing starting at 15% and peaking at 20% in 1980, and successfully makes relevant comparisons, such as retail and agriculture commencing at the same point of almost 6% but moving in opposite directions. The overview accurately captures the major trends without getting bogged down in excessive figures. The information is well-selected and fully addresses the prompt requirements, demonstrating a strong understanding of visual data representation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The report displays clear logical organisation and progression throughout. The response is divided into logical paragraphs, starting with an introduction, followed by an overarching summary, and then detailing the specific trends in subsequent paragraphs. Cohesive devices are used appropriately to link ideas, such as 'On the other hand', 'Contrary to this', and 'Subsequently'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring the reader can easily follow the progression of information across the sixty-year timeline. There is good internal cohesion between sentences, contributing to a smooth reading experience.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with good flexibility and precision. Less common lexical items are used effectively to describe trends, such as 'upward trajectory', 'uptrend', 'culminated', and 'surged steadily'. Word choice is generally natural and appropriate for an academic report, such as 'commenced' and 'leveled off'. While there are very few inaccuracies, the range of vocabulary is more than adequate for the task, allowing the writer to convey precise movements in the data.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response features a good variety of complex structures with frequent error-free sentences. The writer skillfully employs subordinate clauses and participial phrases, such as 'manufacturing was the leading sector at the beginning, which climbed for some time, then steadily dropped' and 'starting from 2% healthcare surged steadily'. Control of grammar and punctuation is generally strong throughout the text. Minor issues do not impede communication, and the grammatical range fully supports the clear expression of complex comparative information.

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