Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-24

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 6.0)

The line graphs presents the data of US economy in four jobs sectors between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, the jobs are listed in millions, the least was agriculture sector under 5 millions. The healthcare and retail gradually increase reaching to same numbers of listing vacancy. Last, the manufacturing company has large jobs then fluctuated and moderately drop from high numbers.

In 1960, the agriculture department listed jobs around 6 millions, by the year 1980 it reached nearly 4 millions and remain steady with slightly drop in 2020 listing around 3.5 millions. Following this manufacturing industries was top in vacancies which about 15 millions in 1960. In 1980 goes to zenith point and giving opportunities of approximately 20 millions positions. Then after gradual decline by the year 2020 remain around 13 millions jobs.

The retail and healthcare units were nearly 6 million, 2.5 million in 1960 respectively. Then after two decades in 1980 10 million and 5 million eachly. Finally, the both units were stopped at around 16 million employments in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The student successfully addresses the main features of the chart, reporting the overall trends and comparing the four sectors over the period from 1960 to 2020. An overview is attempted in the second paragraph, noting the contrasting movements of the sectors, such as the decline in agriculture and the rise in retail and healthcare. However, some data points are slightly inaccurate compared to the visual data, such as stating agriculture was under 5 million in 1960 when it was around 6 million, and minor issues with precise figures throughout the body paragraphs. Nonetheless, all four categories are covered, and the key relationships between them are highlighted, fulfilling the requirements for Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response is organized into four paragraphs, including an introduction, an overview, and separate body paragraphs for the specific data details. Cohesive devices and time markers are used to structure the information, such as 'In 1960', 'Following this', and 'Finally'. However, referencing and cohesion are sometimes faulty or mechanical, as seen in awkward transitions like 'Following this manufacturing industries was top' and 'eachly'. Paragraphing is present and generally appropriate, providing a coherent overall arrangement, which aligns with the Band 6 descriptors.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting words related to trends and economic sectors, such as 'gradually increase', 'fluctuated', and 'decline'. However, there are noticeable word-choice and collocation errors, such as 'listing vacancy', 'manufacturing company has large jobs', and the non-standard word 'eachly'. Spelling is generally acceptable, but vocabulary limitations and occasional awkward phrasing restrict the score to Band 5.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but control over grammar is inconsistent. There are frequent grammatical errors and awkward structures, such as 'The line graphs presents', 'the jobs are listed in millions, the least was agriculture sector', and 'the both units were stopped at around 16 million employments'. Punctuation and subject-verb agreement errors occur regularly, though they rarely impede overall comprehension. This performance fits the Band 5.5 profile.

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