Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-19

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 displays the different

jobs in four sectors of the economy

(Manufacturing, Retail, Agriculture and Health

Care) in the US from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, From beginning to 1980, manufacturing

was the longest period of employment

but it figure start decline at the end

of given time period. Retail and healthcare

sectors constent increase of the end of

From the beginning to the end of 2020. while

healthcare start decline figure from 1960 to

1980 and it become stable and remain less

attractive than other sector.

In 1980 manufacture was the largest with

2e around 20 millions jobs but suddenly its

number start show downward end at the

end of given Period, it was around 13 millions Jobs.

while in Retail and healthcare also show

increase in number with around S-lonations jobs.

Agriculture sectore decline and its number of

Jobs start decreasing and in 1980 only

approximately 2.5 millions jobs available.

From 1980 onward, Retail and healthcare Jobs

show a sharp increase with 15 millions jobs

at the end of 2020. While healthcare sectory

lines show steed or stable number of

around 2.5 million jobs.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The student attempts to cover all sectors presented in the graph (Manufacturing, Retail, Agriculture, and Healthcare) from 1960 to 2020. However, there are significant factual inaccuracies and contradictions in reporting the data. For instance, the text claims that healthcare started to decline from 1960 to 1980, whereas the graph clearly shows it rising from 2 million to 5 million. Additionally, some statements are contradictory or garbled, such as claiming retail and healthcare experienced a 'constent increase' while simultaneously stating healthcare declined. Because of these misinterpretations of visual data and lack of clear, accurate reporting, the response falls into the Band 5 category for Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response attempts a paragraph structure with an introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. However, logical progression is frequently disrupted by confusing transitions and garbled phrasing, such as 'Overall, From beginning to 1980, manufacturing was the longest period of employment'. Cohesive devices are either awkwardly used or omitted entirely, making the flow disjointed. Referencing is frequently unclear, and sentences often lack internal coherence. Paragraphing is present, but the internal organisation of ideas is weak, aligning this response with Band 5.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive, relying on terms like 'jobs', 'sectors', 'increase', and 'decline'. There are numerous lexical errors, typos, and non-standard forms throughout the text, such as 'constent' for constant, 'sectore', 'S-lonations' (likely a typo for millions), and 'steed' for steady. Word choice is frequently imprecise or incorrect, for instance stating manufacturing was the 'longest period of employment'. These errors cause noticeable difficulty for the reader and restrict the lexical score to Band 5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response demonstrates a very limited range of grammatical structures. Most sentences are simple or attempt complex structures that are heavily flawed and ungrammatical, such as 'it figure start decline at the end' or 'while healthcare start decline figure from 1960 to 1980 and it become stable'. Errors in tense, subject-verb agreement, and basic sentence construction are frequent and persistent. These frequent grammatical errors cause severe strain and difficulty for the reader, placing the performance at Band 4.5, rounded to 5.0.

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