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 graph illustrates the number of jobs in millions in four economic sectors from 1960 to 2020 in the US.
Overall, the retail and the healthcare sectors had shown a stable increase in the number of jobs between 1960 and 2020. In stark contrast, employment opportunities in manufacturing and agriculture sectors had decreased overall.
In 1960, healthcare provided the least employment opportunities at about 2.5 million jobs per year which increased to almost 16 million in 2020. This was the maximum increment among the four. The retail sector which had around 6 million jobs in 1960 experienced considerable growth over the next few decades.
The manufacturing sector contributed the most during the 20th century. After that, it showed a decline in employment opportunities at about 14 million jobs. Even though there was a net reduction of only 1 million jobs, its ranking changed from first to third. Agriculture sector which had around 5 million jobs in 1960, managed to show a steady decline to only 2.5 million jobs per year which was not even a quarter of what other sectors were contributing.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The student successfully covers all parts of the task by selecting, reporting, and comparing the main features of the four economic sectors between 1960 and 2020. The overview effectively captures the primary trends, noting the upward trajectory of retail and healthcare alongside the downward trends in manufacturing and agriculture. Key data points are cited accurately to support comparisons, such as healthcare rising from 2.5 million to almost 16 million jobs and manufacturing shifting in ranking despite a relatively small net reduction. The response meets all requirements for Task Achievement at a Band 7 level, as all parts are addressed with clear trends and relevant data, though some further elaboration on intermediate fluctuations could elevate it higher.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Information is grouped sensibly, with the introduction followed by an overall summary paragraph, and then body paragraphs dedicated to specific sectors. Cohesive devices such as 'In stark contrast,' 'After that,' and 'Even though' are used effectively to guide the reader through comparisons and transitions. Paragraphing is used appropriately, separating the general trends from detailed support. While the cohesion is generally smooth, referencing could occasionally be tighter, placing this solidly in the Band 7 category.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The student demonstrates an adequate to good range of vocabulary suited to describing statistical trends, using terms such as 'stable increase,' 'considerable growth,' 'net reduction,' and 'steady decline.' Less common lexical items are attempted with some awareness of style and collocation, such as 'employment opportunities' and 'maximum increment.' There are minor awkwardness issues, such as 'per year' when describing cumulative job totals from a graph, but these do not impede communication. The vocabulary usage comfortably fits the Band 6.5 to 7 range, balancing sufficient range with occasional inaccuracies.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
A mix of simple and complex sentence forms is used throughout the response, including subordinate clauses such as 'The retail sector which had around 6 million jobs...' and 'Even though there was a net reduction...'. Grammatical control is generally good, although there are a few tense errors, such as the incorrect use of the past perfect ('had shown') where simple past would suffice. Punctuation is mostly accurate, and errors are infrequent enough that they do not impede communication, supporting a Band 6.5 score.
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