Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-28

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 graph illustrates the employment figures across four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, retail and healthcare showed a great rise in the given period, while manufacturing and agriculture experienced a slight decline. By 2020 retail and healthcare had emerged as the largest sector.

In 1960, both retail and agriculture accounted for an identical number of approximately 6 millions jobs. After 1960, the figure for retail started to increase, reaching around 10 million jobs in 1980. However, the trend for agriculture was opposite, dropping to about 2.5 million jobs. By 2020, retail's number skyrocketed to around 16 million jobs, making it among the largest sector.

Turning to manufacturing and healthcare. In 1960, manufacturing was the largest sector, having 15 million jobs. Healthcare saw substantial growth in the given period, starting at approximately 2 million jobs. By 2020, healthcare reached to about 16 million jobs, emerging as one of the largest sector. Manufacturing peaked at 20 million jobs in 1980, becoming absolute leader in this period. However, after 1980, manufacturing declined about to 13 millions jobs

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student successfully covers all four economic sectors shown in the graph over the specified timeframe (1960 to 2020). An overall trend is provided, noting that retail and healthcare increased while manufacturing and agriculture declined. Key features and comparisons are appropriately reported, such as manufacturing peaking at 20 million jobs in 1980 and healthcare/retail ending up as the largest sectors at around 16 million jobs by 2020. However, there are minor numerical inaccuracies and generalizations; for example, stating that retail and healthcare 'had emerged as the largest sector' in the plural requires correct noun agreement ('sectors'), and agriculture actually dropped to 3 million rather than 'about 2.5 million' in 1980, though this is within acceptable tolerance. Overall, the task is well addressed, earning a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overall summary paragraph, and two body paragraphs dedicated to contrasting the sectors. Paragraphing is used appropriately to group related ideas (retail and agriculture in one paragraph, manufacturing and healthcare in another). Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Turning to', and 'However' are employed effectively to guide the reader through the data, maintaining a clear progression throughout. Referencing is generally clear, though minor improvements could be made in transition integration. Overall, the structure meets the requirements for a Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms like 'employment figures', 'accounted for', 'skyrocketed', 'substantial growth', and 'absolute leader'. There are occasional lexical inaccuracies or awkward collocations, such as 'retail's number skyrocketed' instead of 'employment in retail' or 'retail sales', and minor grammatical/number issues like 'among the largest sector' instead of 'sectors' and 'one of the largest sector'. Nevertheless, the vocabulary is adequate to convey the intended meaning with some flexibility and precision, warranting a Band 6.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over structures such as participial phrases ('having 15 million jobs', 'emerging as one of the largest sector') and time clauses ('By 2020, healthcare reached to about 16 million jobs'). There are some minor grammatical errors and awkward prepositions, such as 'reached to about' (instead of 'reached about') and 'declined about to 13 millions jobs' (unnecessary plural 'millions', misplaced 'about'), but these errors do not impede communication. The majority of sentences are clear and grammatically sound, supporting a Band 6.5.

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