Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-18

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 line graph illustrates about the number of vacancies in four departments of the economy in th United States over a period of sixty years.

The workforce presented in millions.

Overall, the graph highlights the manufcturing industry and agriculture continously were declining, while both healthcare and retail were substanial growing between 1960 to 2020.

To commence with, initially in 1960, manufacturing sector was provided 15 millions of jobs then in next twenty years it slightly rose up to 20 millions afterthat, it continously decline till 2020. the agriculture department statrted at five million jobs in 1960 later on it decline and remain same for 40 years then in next 20 years it slightly down.

on the other hand, Healtcare and retails sectors significantly inreases and leveled off in 2020. in 1960 healtcare satred with about 2 millions and retail begin with 5 millions in 1980 to 2020 there were increases double in number.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all four sectors shown in the graph and attempts to report the main trends and overall comparisons over the sixty-year period. However, there are several inaccuracies in data reporting. For instance, the student states that manufacturing and agriculture 'continously were declining' between 1960 and 2020, but manufacturing actually rose significantly from 15 million in 1960 to 20 million in 1980 before declining. Additionally, the overview contains minor grammatical awkwardness. While the main features are touched upon, the lack of precision in tracking the trajectories of the lines keeps this criterion at Band 5.5.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay attempts a logical structure with an introduction, an overview sentence, and body paragraphs divided by trends. However, the paragraphing is underdeveloped, with sentences clumped together haphazardly (e.g., mixing manufacturing and agriculture in a single dense paragraph). Transitional markers are basic or misused, such as 'To commence with' and 'afterthat, it continously decline', and punctuation errors like missing capitalization at the start of sentences ('the agriculture department...') disrupt the flow and logical progression for the reader.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is relatively basic and repetitive, with frequent word choice and collocation errors (e.g., 'vacancies' instead of 'jobs', 'departments' instead of 'sectors', 'substanial growing' instead of 'substantial growth', and 'increases double in number'). There are also several spelling errors throughout the text, including 'manufcturing', 'continously', 'statrted', 'Healtcare', and 'inreases'. While the vocabulary is adequate to convey a basic meaning, these lexical and orthographic issues restrict the score to Band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The text displays a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying heavily on simple sentences with frequent structural errors. There are persistent problems with verb tense and voice, such as 'manufacturing sector was provided 15 millions of jobs', 'it decline and remain same', and 'healtcare satred'. Subject-verb agreement and article usage are also flawed ('the US', 'Healtcare and retails sectors significantly inreases'). These frequent errors frequently strain the reader's comprehension and place the grammar firmly in the Band 5 category.

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