Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-15
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)
A glance at the rendred line chart depicts the data regarding the amount of work in four sectors of economy in the US between the years 1960 and 2020. The data has been calibrated in numbers.
Overall, it is crystal clear that the amount of jobs in manufacturing sector was highest whereas, number of jobs in agriculture sector was least.
To embark with, the amount of jobs in healthcare sector gradually starts to increase from the year 1960. Additionally, the number of jobs in manufacturing secor was 15 during the year 1960, that is equal to the value of jobs in retail sector during the year 2000.
Probing ahead, the amount of jobs in retail sector was 10 during the year 1980, which was 5 more than the jobs in healthcare sector during the year 1980 and 5 less than number of jobs in retail sector during the year 2000.
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 student attempts to report on the main features of the graph, but the selection of data is very limited and disjointed. For instance, the overview incorrectly states that manufacturing was highest throughout and agriculture was least, which fails to capture the dynamic shifts over the 60-year period (such as retail and healthcare overtaking manufacturing by 2020, or agriculture starting at the same level as retail in 1960). Furthermore, the body paragraphs focus on isolated numerical comparisons rather than overarching trends and key data points. The response satisfies the minimum length requirement, but the lack of thorough development and the inaccurate overview restrict the task achievement score to a Band 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organised into an introduction, an overview, and separate body paragraphs, showing a basic structure. However, the progression of ideas is hindered by repetitive and awkward transitions such as 'To embark with' and 'Probing ahead', which are unnatural in academic writing. Cohesive devices are sometimes mechanical or misused. Paragraphing is attempted, but the paragraphs are extremely short and underdeveloped, failing to group related information logically. Overall, the arrangement provides a basic framework, but the faulty cohesion and lack of clear logical progression place this performance at Band 5.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is relatively basic and repetitive, relying heavily on phrases like 'the amount of jobs' and 'number of jobs'. There are several spelling and word choice errors, such as 'rendred' instead of 'rendered', 'amount of work' instead of 'number of jobs', and 'secor' instead of 'sector'. While the writer attempts some topic-specific vocabulary ('economy', 'sectors'), the range is limited and inadequate for a higher band. The errors in word choice and spelling occasionally cause minor confusion, aligning the lexical resource with a Band 5.0 descriptor.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses ('which was 5 more than...'). However, grammatical control is weak, with errors evident in subject-verb agreement and tense usage, such as 'starts to increase' in a past-tense context ('from the year 1960'). There are also awkward phrasings like 'The data has been calibrated in numbers'. Although the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the text from achieving a Band 6.0, making a Band 5.0 a more accurate reflection of the current grammatical control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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