Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 given line graph gives us information about the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020. The data is given in million

A cursory glance at the graph is illustrates that the number of jobs in sector of manufacturing was at its peak in the year 1980. Moreover, it grew steadily till the year 1980. Then, it reduced dramatically and jumped from twenth millions to thirteen millions. Furthermore, the number of jobs in the sector of agriculture was dramtic fall. However, it reached two millions from six millions.

Further looking at the graph it can be clearly seen that the number of jobs in the section of retail climbed drastically. In addition, it jumped sixteen millions from six millions. Apart from this, there was sharp incline in the sector of healthcare jobs.

In a nut shell, it can be clearly noticed that the falling trend seen in the jobs of agriculture and manufacturing whereas rising trend noticed in the sector of healthcare and retail.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to cover the main features of the graph, presenting an overview in the concluding sentence and detailing some of the trends for manufacturing, agriculture, retail, and healthcare. However, the task achievement is hindered by inaccuracies in data reporting and basic structural confusion. For instance, the student states that the manufacturing sector jumped 'from twenth millions to thirteen millions,' which misinterprets the downward trend between 1980 and 2020. Similarly, the description of agriculture claiming it 'reached two millions from six millions' lacks clarity. While an overview is present, key comparisons between sectors are underdeveloped, and data points are sometimes misquoted or awkwardly articulated. These shortcomings place this response firmly at Band 5.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is organised into multiple paragraphs, including an introduction, body paragraphs, and a brief concluding overview ('In a nut shell'). However, logical progression is frequently disrupted by awkward transitions and confusing cohesion. Phrases like 'Further looking at the graph' and 'Apart from this' are used mechanically and sometimes inappropriately. The referencing of data and timeframes is disjointed, and the lack of smooth transitions between the disparate points creates a choppy reading experience. Paragraphing is attempted, but internal cohesion within the body paragraphs is weak, resulting in an overall score of 5.0 for this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The lexical range is limited and repetitive, featuring basic vocabulary and frequent word choice errors. The student uses terms like 'dramtic fall,' 'sharp incline,' and 'falling trend,' but struggles with precise collocation and spelling (e.g., 'twenth' instead of twenty, 'nut shell' instead of nutshell, 'dramtic' instead of dramatic). There are also erroneous phrasings such as 'jumped sixteen millions from six millions' instead of rising from six to sixteen million. While the vocabulary is minimally adequate to convey the general topic of jobs and economic sectors, the numerous lexical inaccuracies restrict the score to Band 5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but grammatical accuracy is poor throughout the response. There are numerous errors in verb tense, preposition use, and sentence construction. For example, 'A cursory glance at the graph is illustrates' contains a redundant verb form, and 'jumped from twenth millions to thirteen millions' misuses the verb 'jumped' for a decline. Additionally, missing prepositions and awkward clause structures are common (e.g., 'falling trend seen in the jobs of agriculture and manufacturing whereas rising trend noticed...'). These frequent errors cause difficulty for the reader and reflect Band 5 performance.

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