Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-22
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 tracks the information about the number of employment in four different sectors of the economy in the US from 1960 to 2020.
overall, Retail and healthcare sector showed the highest number of jobs. Meanwhile, Agriculture sector have got the least number of jobs. Retail and Healthcare sector showed an upward trend while Manufacturing and Agriculture sector showed an downward trend.
Firstly, manufacturing sector have got the highest number of jobs which is around 20 million during the year 1980 and then it started to decline and reached at around 13 million in 2020. Also, Agriculture sector declined all around the period from 1960 to 2020.
Although, the Healthcare sector have least opportunity during the year 1960 which is around 2 million jobs and reached at its peak of around 15 million job during the year 2020. Retail sector showed an continuously increased sector from around 5 million jobs to 15 million jobs during the yesr end 2020.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The student attempts to cover all parts of the task by reporting the main trends and data points across the four sectors. However, there are some inaccuracies in reporting the data. For instance, the student states that the retail and healthcare sectors showed the highest number of jobs overall, which is partially true for the end period, but manufacturing actually peaked at 20 million in 1980, higher than retail at that point. Furthermore, stating that retail showed a 'continuously increased sector' misses some nuance. The overview is somewhat basic, and while key features are mentioned, the lack of precise data handling keeps this performance at a Band 5.5.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is arranged into four paragraphs, attempting an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. However, the logical progression is hindered by poor paragraphing and repetitive sentence structures. Transition markers are basic, such as 'Firstly' and 'Although', and some cohesive devices are misused or awkward, as seen in 'Although, the Healthcare sector have least opportunity...'. Referencing is sometimes unclear, and the overall flow lacks the smooth progression expected at higher bands. Paragraphing is present, but internal cohesion is frequently faulty or mechanical, justifying a Band 5.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range to communicate basic information about the graph, using terms like 'sector', 'trend', 'decline', and 'peak'. However, there are noticeable lexical inaccuracies and awkward phrasing, such as 'number of employment', 'have got', and 'continuously increased sector'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with limited success. Spelling is generally acceptable, but word choice errors and improper collocations occur regularly, which places this response firmly in the Band 5.0 category.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but attempts at complex forms are frequently flawed. Grammatical errors are common throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'Agriculture sector have got', 'Healthcare sector have least') and tense inconsistencies. Punctuation errors are also present, such as uncapitalized sentence starts ('overall') and unnecessary commas. While meaning is usually retrievable, the frequency of errors causes noticeable difficulty for the reader, aligning with the Band 5.0 descriptors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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