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 graph illustrates the number of employees in four different sectors in the United States between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, the number of jobs in Retail and Healthcare increased, whereas employment in Manufacturing and Agriculture declined over the period.

The number of jobs in Healthcare increased steadily from 3 million in 1960 to approximately 16 million in 2020. Similarly, employment in Retail grew gradually from 6 million in 1960 to approximately 16 million in 2020.

In contrast, the number of jobs in Manufacturing stood at 15 million in 1960 and climbed dramatically to approximately 20 million before declining steadily over the following four decades to 13 million in 2020. Meanwhile, employment in Agriculture decreased gradually from 6 million in 1960 to approximately 3 million in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response covers all four economic sectors shown in the graph and accurately identifies the main overall trends, distinguishing between the growing sectors (Retail and Healthcare) and the declining ones (Agriculture). Key data points are cited correctly, such as Manufacturing peaking at 20 million and Agriculture finishing at around 3 million. However, there is a minor data reading error in the third paragraph, where the student states Healthcare began at '3 million in 1960' when the visual data indicates it was closer to 2 million. More importantly, the response is under length at 127 words, falling short of the 150-word minimum requirement. This negative impact on word count prevents the task achievement score from reaching a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The text is logically organised with a clear overall progression. An introductory sentence paraphrases the prompt, followed by a well-formulated overview paragraph that highlights the primary trends. Body paragraphs are structured logically, separating the sectors into rising and falling trends. Cohesive devices are used appropriately to guide the reader through the data, such as 'Overall,' 'Similarly,' 'In contrast,' and 'Meanwhile.' Paragraphing is used effectively to separate distinct aspects of the data. However, due to the shortness of the response, the depth of cohesion remains somewhat basic, keeping the score at band 7.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The lexical resource used in the response is adequate and mostly appropriate for an academic task. The student employs useful vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'increased steadily,' 'climbed dramatically,' 'declining steadily,' and 'decreased gradually.' Word choice is generally accurate, and spelling is correct throughout. While the range of vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main features clearly, it lacks more sophisticated or less common lexical items (such as 'fluctuated' or 'plateaued') that would be required for higher bands. Overall, the vocabulary effectively serves the purpose of the task without impeding communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a good control of grammar and punctuation. The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as introductory prepositional phrases followed by independent clauses ('Between 1960 and 2020, the number of jobs...'). There are frequent error-free sentences, and complex structures are handled with reasonable accuracy, such as 'before declining steadily over the following four decades to 13 million in 2020.' Verb tenses (primarily simple past) are used consistently and correctly to report past data. Minor errors are absent, and grammatical control is strong, meriting a solid band 7.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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