Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)
The line graph illustrates the number of jobs in four sectors ( manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare ) in US over the period from 1960 to 2020.
Overall, it is clear that retail and healthcare sectors experienced an upward trend, whereas manufacturing and agriculture sectors followed an opposite pattern. In addition, retail and healthcare both recorded the highest figure towards the end of the period.
Looking first at retail sector, the figure stood at approximately 6 million in 1960. It then rose gradually to 16 million in 2020. A similar trend can be seen in healthcare sector . Starting around 6 million in 1960, the figure increased to 16 million in 2020, which was similar to the figure for retail at this point.
Turning to manufacturing, the figure followed a different pattern. It initially stood at 15 million which was the highest number of jobs in 1960, before rising to 20 million in 1980. After 1980, it fell considerably, eventually reaching under 15 million in 2020. Meanwhile, agriculture sectore fell from 6 million in 1960 to around 2 million by 2020 over the same period.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The student covers all parts of the task well, successfully reporting the main features and making relevant comparisons across the four economic sectors. An appropriate overview is provided, highlighting the overall upward trends in retail and healthcare versus the downward trends in manufacturing and agriculture. Key figures are accurately reported from the graph, such as manufacturing starting at 15 million in 1960, peaking at 20 million in 1980, and retail rising gradually to 16 million in 2020. The response is fully developed and well-grounded in the visual data, meeting all requirements for a Band 7.0 performance.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response is logically organised with a clear overall progression. Information is grouped effectively into paragraphs, starting with an introduction and overview, followed by body paragraphs dedicated to specific sectors. Cohesive devices are used adequately, such as 'Overall', 'In addition', 'Looking first at', and 'Turning to manufacturing'. However, there are minor cohesion issues, such as referencing the healthcare sector starting around 6 million when the visual data indicates a figure closer to 2 million in 1960, and a small spacing error before punctuation in paragraph three. Despite these minor flaws, the arrangement is coherent and easy to follow, supporting a Band 7.0 score.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The student uses an adequate and sufficiently varied range of vocabulary for the task, incorporating appropriate terms like 'upward trend', 'gradually', 'considerably', and 'sector'. There are successful attempts to use less common items and precise reporting verbs and adjectives, such as 'peaking' or 'falling considerably'. A minor slip occurs in the final paragraph with the misspelling 'sectore' and a missing article ('the retail sector'), but these errors do not impede communication. The lexical range is solid and fits comfortably into the Band 6.5 to 7.0 range, leaning toward a solid Band 6.5 due to occasional minor inaccuracies.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The student demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilising structures such as subordinate clauses ('which was the highest number of jobs in 1960') and participial phrases effectively. Grammatical control is generally good, with frequent error-free sentences. There are a few minor omissions, such as missing articles ('in US' instead of 'in the US', 'Looking first at retail sector' instead of 'Looking first at the retail sector'), but these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. The variety of structures and overall accuracy support a solid Band 7.0 score.
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