Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-26

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 5.5)

The line graph depicts the information about the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the country, United States from 1960 to 2020.

In 1960, occupations in manufacturing sector was the highest in number, which was 15 million and employement in healthcare was the lowest, which was around 3 million. While the two sectors retail and agriculture was at same level, which was almost 6 million. After two decades in 1980, all the quarters was in increasing except for agriculture, which was in decreasing order. Manufacturing was on its peak level, which was 20 million. On the same hand,employment in other quarters such as retail, agriculture and healthcare was 10 million, 5 million and 4 million.

After 1980 in 2000, professions in manufacturing was starded coming down and reach level 14 million. whereas, retail was 15 million, healthcare was 11 million and agriculture was same as in 1980, which was 4 million.After twenty years retail abd healthcare reached level 16 million which was largest in number while the agriculture and manufacturing was 3 million and 14 million.

In conclusion, all the sectors were in increasing order except for agriculture and manufacturing.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The student covers all four sectors across the given time period, providing an overview and making relevant comparisons. However, there are some inaccuracies in reporting specific data points. For instance, the student states that in 1960 employment in healthcare was 'around 3 million' when the chart shows it at 2 million, and refers to agriculture and retail in 1960 as being 'at same level, which was almost 6 million' whereas retail was 6 million and agriculture was also 6 million, which is closer to accurate. The overview at the end is overly simplistic and partially inaccurate, claiming all sectors were in increasing order except agriculture and manufacturing, ignoring retail and healthcare growth. This places the response in Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a coherent overall arrangement and follows a logical chronological structure, moving from 1960 through 1980 and 2000 to the end of the period in 2020. Paragraphing is attempted, though the layout is slightly fragmented into short paragraphs. Cohesive devices and transition markers are used, such as 'In 1960', 'After two decades in 1980', 'On the same hand', and 'In conclusion'. However, some cohesive links are awkward or inappropriate, such as 'On the same hand' instead of 'On the other hand', and referencing is occasionally unclear. This demonstrates the characteristics of Band 6.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, with domain-specific terms such as 'occupations', 'employment', 'sectors', and 'economy'. The student attempts less common vocabulary like 'manufacturing', 'agriculture', and 'healthcare'. However, there are notable word choice and collocation errors, such as 'employement' (spelling error), 'quarters' used incorrectly to refer to economic sectors, and awkward phrasing like 'starded coming down and reach level'. Vocabulary range is sufficient to convey the main message, but errors in spelling and word selection prevent a higher score, fitting Band 5.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses ('which was 15 million') and comparative structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('occupations in manufacturing sector was', 'all the quarters was'), incorrect verb forms ('was starded coming down'), and missing prepositions or articles. Punctuation is also occasionally weak. While communication is not severely impeded, the high frequency of grammatical inaccuracies keeps the performance at a Band 5.5 level.

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