Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The line graph illustrates the number of jobs in millions in four different sectors of the economy in the US from1960 to 2020.

Overall, there are significant changes in all four sectors. Manufacture and agriculture jobs show downward trend over the period, while retail and healthcare show upward trend until both reached their peak at same point.

Manufacture started with 15 million jobs in 1960, reached at its peak number, 20 million, in 1980 and fell to third most common sector with less than 15 million jobs, by 2020. Agriculture was the second most faviourite job in 1960 and it showed to decline consistently until it became the least common job sector in 2020 with around 3 million jobs.

Number of Retail and healthcare jobs increased overtime. Retail job and agriculture were at same point in 1960 with about 7 million jobs and climbed up to reach the peak value of more than 15 million by 2020. Regarding healthcare, it showed dramatic increase from about 7 million jobs in 1960 to above 15 million by 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features and making relevant comparisons across the four economic sectors between 1960 and 2020. An overview is provided, noting that manufacturing and agriculture showed downward trends while retail and healthcare experienced growth. Key data points are accurately reported, such as manufacturing starting at 15 million in 1960 and peaking at 20 million in 1980. However, there are a few minor data inaccuracies in the body paragraphs; for instance, the student states that retail and agriculture were at the same point in 1960 with about 7 million jobs (whereas agriculture was actually around 6 million and retail 6 million, which is close, but retail and healthcare both finishing at 16 million in 2020 is slightly misdescribed as 'both reached their peak at same point' when healthcare continued rising alongside retail). Nevertheless, the response covers all required aspects well, earning a solid Band 6.5.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is arranged logically with an introduction, an overview paragraph, and two body paragraphs detailing specific sectors. Cohesive devices are used adequately, such as 'Overall', 'while', and 'Regarding healthcare'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed body content. However, progression is occasionally slightly mechanical, and referencing is not always completely clear, such as the transition into the final paragraph ('Number of Retail and healthcare jobs increased overtime'). Logical sequencing is maintained throughout, but cohesion can occasionally feel somewhat repetitive. This aligns well with the Band 6 descriptors for Coherence and Cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully employing terms like 'sector', 'downward trend', 'upward trend', and 'dramatic increase'. However, there are several lexical errors, word-form issues, and typos throughout the text, such as 'Manufacture' instead of 'Manufacturing', 'faviouirite' (favourite/popular), and writing 'overtime' instead of 'over time'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with mixed success. These vocabulary errors do not impede overall communication, but they prevent the response from reaching a higher band, making Band 6 an accurate assessment.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating clauses with 'while', 'as', and relative structures. There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings present, such as 'reached at its peak number' (extra preposition), 'agriculture was the second most faviourite job' (category error, jobs vs. sectors), and missing articles ('Number of Retail and healthcare jobs'). Punctuation and articles need tighter control, though these errors rarely impede communication and the meaning remains clear. This performance fits the Band 6 criteria for Grammatical Range and Accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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