Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-17

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 the information about the number of jobs in Manufacturing, Retail, Agriculture and Healthcare sectors in the US between 1960 and 2020. The x-axis shows the years while the y-axis shows jobs in million.

Manufacturing sector is the higghest demanding sector since 1960. By looking at the trends its graph shows, it can easily be concluded that in 1960 manufacturing sector was the most popular one. Then untill 1980, there was a upward trend. However, after 1980, this sector keeps on declining, as shown by the graph and in 2020 lower number of people interested in it than 1980.

Moreover, Agriculture sector showed a mix of static and downward trend. From 1960 to 1980, the jobs in this sector was decreased, however from 1980 to 2000, the graph showed a static approach, while the same downward trend showed between 2000 to 2020.

In healthcare and retail sectors, the upward trend was observed. From 1960 to 2000, the retail sector showed a sudden surge in the trend in job industry, whilee healthcare sector was a bit slow in this regard in those year. However, between 2000 to 2020 retail sector showed light progression stage while, healthcare sector showed strong surge.

In short, the number of jobs changes throughout year. some sectors provide more incentives and attract large population for time being, while some doesn't showed that much.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The student attempts to summarise the main features of the chart, noting trends in Manufacturing, Agriculture, Retail, and Healthcare. However, there are notable inaccuracies in the data interpretation. For instance, the student states that the Manufacturing sector was the highest demanding sector since 1960 and remained the most popular one, but the chart clearly shows Healthcare and Retail overtaking Manufacturing by 2020. Additionally, the overview contains vague meta-language rather than a clear summary of overall trends. While all four categories are mentioned, the lack of precision in reporting key data points and the misreading of final values pull the score down to Band 5.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The text is organized into paragraphs, starting with an introduction, followed by body paragraphs detailing individual sectors, and a brief conclusion. However, the logical progression is hindered by awkward transitions and repetitive sentence openings, such as 'From 1960 to 1980' and 'between 2000 to 2020'. Cohesive devices are sometimes mechanical or misused, as seen in phrases like 'showed a static approach'. Paragraphing is present, but internal cohesion lacks flexibility and natural flow. This fits the Band 5.0 descriptor for organizing information with some overall structure, but lacking clear progression throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, incorporating sector-specific terms such as 'Manufacturing', 'Retail', 'Agriculture', and 'Healthcare'. However, there are noticeable spelling errors and lexical inaccuracies, such as 'higghest' instead of 'highest', 'untill' instead of 'until', 'upward' instead of 'upward trend', and 'wheras' or 'whilee'. The student attempts less common phrases like 'sudden surge' and 'light progression stage', but word choices are sometimes unnatural or imprecise. These errors cause occasional strain for the reader, placing the response firmly at Band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The student displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting relative clauses and time-phrase introductions. However, grammatical accuracy is weak, with frequent errors in verb tense consistency, prepositions, and article usage. Examples include 'the jobs in this sector was decreased' (subject-verb agreement and voice error), 'some doesn't showed' (tense and auxiliary error), and missing articles before sector names. Complex structures are often faulty, and errors frequently occur throughout the text, though communication of the general topic is still maintained, corresponding to Band 5.0.

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