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 graph illustrates the information about the number of jobs in manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare are in four sectors of the economy in the us between 1960 to 2020.
Overall, in the jobs in millions there is rapid increase in retail and healthcare but also slightly decrease in agriculture and there is rapid up and down in manufacturing.
In 1960 to 1980 there is a rapid rise in manufacturing and crash from 1980 to 2020. In retail there is increasing order from 11960 to 2000 and slightly change upto 2020 and having nearly 16 jobs in millions.
In agriculture from 6 number of jobs there is falls of number of jobs and reach to 3 from 1960 to 1980 again there is certain change from 1980 to 2020. As well as in healthcare there is rapid increasing order where from 3 number of jobs to reach 16 nuber of jobs frond date 1960 to 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 response covers all four sectors shown in the graph and attempts to provide an overview and make comparisons. However, the data reporting contains significant inaccuracies and is often vague. For example, the student states that healthcare went 'from 3 number of jobs to reach 16 nuber of jobs', whereas the graph shows it started at approximately 2 million in 1960. Furthermore, the overview mentions a 'rapid increase in retail and healthcare but also slightly decrease in agriculture and there is rapid up and down in manufacturing', which is mostly accurate in trend, but the overall summarisation lacks precision. The response meets the minimum length requirement of 150 words (containing 156 words), but due to imprecise data reporting and under-developed details, it meets the criteria for Band 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organised into multiple paragraphs, attempting an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs detailing different timeframes and sectors. However, the progression of ideas is often unclear and mechanical. Cohesive devices are used awkwardly or inaccurately, such as the repetitive use of 'there is' at the start of multiple sentences ('In 1960 to 1980 there is a rapid rise...', 'In retail there is increasing order...', 'In agriculture from 6 number of jobs there is falls...'). Paragraphing is attempted, but the logical flow within paragraphs is disrupted by grammatical errors and unnatural phrasing. These issues place the response firmly at Band 5.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, frequently relying on simple verbs and nouns ('rapid increase', 'rapid rise', 'number of jobs'). There are noticeable lexical errors and awkward collocations, such as 'increasing order', 'crash from 1980 to 2020' (when referring to manufacturing numbers), and typographical or numerical errors like '11960' and 'nuber'. While the vocabulary is minimally adequate to convey the general topic of jobs and economic sectors, the range is limited and imprecise, warranting a band score of 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control over grammar is weak. There are frequent grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('the number of jobs... are in four sectors') and awkward prepositional phrases ('frond date 1960 to 2020'). Punctuation and sentence construction often impede smooth reading, as seen in run-on or malformed sentences like 'As well as in healthcare there is rapid increasing order where from 3 number of jobs to reach 16 nuber of jobs frond date 1960 to 2020.' These frequent errors place the response at Band 5.0.
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