Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)
The given line graph illustrates the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US from 1960 to 2020.
Overall, manufacturing jobs increased at first and then decreased. Retail and healthcare jobs increased, while agriculture jobs decreased.
Looking first at manufacturing, it increased from 15 million jobs in 1960 to 20 million in 1980. After that, it fell to 17 million in 2000 and 13 million in 2020. Similarly, retail jobs rose from 6 million to 10 million between 1960 and 1980. It then increased to 15 million in 2000 and 16 million in 2020.
Turning to healthcare, it experienced a gradual increase from 2 million jobs in 1960 to 16 million in 2020. In contrast, agriculture decreased from 6 million to 2 million jobs during the same period. It remained at around 3 million in 1980 and 2000. Overall, healthcare increased while agriculture decreased. This also shows employment moved from agriculture and manufacturing towards retail and healthcare during the period in the United States.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The student covers all four sectors (manufacturing, retail, agriculture, healthcare) across the entire time span from 1960 to 2020. The response successfully reports key data points, such as manufacturing peaking at 20 million in 1980 and healthcare rising from 2 million to 16 million. An effective overall trend is established early and reinforced at the end, noting the shift from agriculture and manufacturing toward retail and healthcare. The data points cited are accurate according to the provided graph transcription. The task is fully addressed with well-chosen main features and clear comparisons, satisfying Band 7 descriptors thoroughly.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response is organized logically into an introduction, an overview paragraph, and body paragraphs that address specific sectors. Progression is clear throughout, aided by transitional phrases like 'Looking first at', 'After that', and 'Turning to'. Cohesive devices are used appropriately, though there is a minor pronoun reference slip ('Similarly, retail jobs rose... It then increased', where 'It' is singular referring to the plural 'retail jobs'). Paragraphing is functional and separates the introduction, overview, and body sections effectively. This aligns well with the Band 7 requirements for logical organisation and cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary suitable for an economic line graph, including terms such as 'sector', 'economy', 'gradual increase', and 'employment'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with some success, such as 'experienced a gradual increase' and 'decreased'. While the vocabulary is not particularly sophisticated or adventurous, it is precise enough to convey the trends accurately. Word choices are mostly natural, though occasional repetition of verbs like 'increased' and 'decreased' keeps this at a solid Band 6 level.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including subordinate clauses and temporal markers (e.g., 'The given line graph illustrates...', 'while agriculture decreased'). There are frequent error-free sentences, and grammar control is generally good. However, there is a minor plural agreement slip ('retail jobs... It then increased'), which prevents a higher score. Punctuation is accurate, and sentence structures allow the message to be communicated clearly, fitting comfortably into the Band 7 category for grammatical control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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