Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The graph illustrates that the number of jobs in four sector of the economy in the

US between 1960 to 2020.

The chart occupy four main features i-e manufacturing,retail,agriculture,

healthcare.on the X plane there is number of years and on the other hand

Y plane which has number of jobs in millions. the number of jobs increased

hen the line goes upwards and the manufacturing jobs have a peak time in 1980.

gradually , it has a level off in 2020.

after the drop, it became stable. however, the retail jobs moderately higher

in the 2000 and then it grows slightly upward till 2020 and become stable.

the agriculture jobs rapidly goes down till 1980 and become moderate in 1980

and decreased slightly in 2020 .

The health care jobs has a sudden increase after 1980 and make a contact with

retail jobs in 2020 . these jobs are playing vital part in the finance department of the country.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to summarise the main features of the graph, mentioning manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and healthcare sectors across the 1960-2020 period. However, the introduction is grammatically incomplete ('The graph illustrates that the number of jobs...'), failing to form a proper dependent or independent clause. Furthermore, the overview is missing entirely, as the writer immediately launches into specific data points rather than synthesising general trends. While some key features such as the manufacturing peak in 1980 and the rise in healthcare are noted, comparisons between sectors are superficial, and the final comment regarding the 'finance department of the country' is factually unsupported by the prompt. Overall, these limitations place the response at Band 5.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is divided into four paragraphs, but paragraphing logic is frequently disrupted. The introduction lacks a main verb, and the second paragraph awkwardly combines features of the chart layout (mentioning the X and Y planes) with specific data trends. Cohesive devices are used inconsistently or inappropriately, such as abrupt transitions ('after the drop, it became stable. however...') and unconventional conversational abbreviations like 'i-e'. There is a lack of overall progression, as ideas jump between sectors without smooth logical links. Referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the flow of information smoothly. This performance corresponds to Band 5 descriptors.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The lexical range is limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic terms like 'jobs', 'increased', 'decreased', and 'stable'. There are notable inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'occupy four main features' instead of 'depict' or 'feature', 'X plane' instead of 'horizontal axis', and 'make a contact with' instead of 'intersect' or 'reach the same level'. Spelling and mechanical errors also appear, such as spacing issues and lowercase letters at the start of sentences ('on the X plane', 'after the drop'). The vocabulary is minimally adequate to convey basic ideas, but noticeable errors occur throughout, fitting the Band 5 level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response demonstrates a very limited range of grammatical structures. Simple sentences dominate, and attempts at more complex structures are frequently faulty, such as the incomplete opening sentence and clauses joined incorrectly without proper punctuation or conjunctions (e.g., 'gradually , it has a level off'). There are frequent errors in tense consistency, article usage, and prepositions ('in the 2000', 'on the other hand Y plane'). Punctuation is weak, with spaces preceding commas and periods throughout the text. These frequent errors cause occasional difficulty for the reader, aligning closely with Band 5.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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