Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
This diagram is about jobs in US economy. According to this diagram manufacturing sector provided most jobs in US economy but jobs starting declining after year 2000. And second sector which is currently giving most jobs is retail sector it produced only about 5 million jobs but it is in upward trajectory and after 2000 it even overtook manufacturing sector. Healthcare sector is another interesting sector it was producing less jobs than manufacturing and retail sector but growth continued and especially after 1980 significant upward jump is seen but agriculture is only sector which didn't generate much jobs and it is continuously falling.
Overall this diagram is very informative and tells even though jobs in manufacturing sector reduced but overall jobs in US economy continued to increase thanks to retail and healthcare sector.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count of 150 words, standing at only 133 words, which directly impacts the completeness of the task. While the student attempts to summarise the main features of the graph—such as the peak and decline of manufacturing, the rise of retail, the growth of healthcare, and the fall of agriculture—the information is presented in a very compressed manner with several approximations and imprecise data reporting. For instance, stating that retail 'produced only about 5 million jobs' is inaccurate for 1960 (it was 6 million) and ignores subsequent data points. The overview is also very brief and subjective ('very informative'). Therefore, the response achieves a Band 5.0 due to under-length and under-developed details.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The text suffers from a lack of proper paragraphing, being condensed into one single body block followed by a brief concluding sentence. Cohesive devices are minimal and basic, relying heavily on consecutive clauses linked with 'and' or 'but', leading to a run-on feel. For example, sentences like 'Healthcare sector is another interesting sector it was producing less jobs... but growth continued' lack internal punctuation and proper connective tissue. Progression is also somewhat disjointed because data points jump between categories without clear overarching signposting. This level of organisation corresponds to a Band 5.0.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is repetitive and basic, relying heavily on terms provided in the prompt such as 'jobs', 'sector', 'economy', and 'manufacturing'. Phrases like 'upward trajectory', 'significant upward jump', and 'continuously falling' show some attempt to describe trends, but word choice and collocation are often awkward (e.g., 'produce more jobs' instead of 'generate employment', 'starting declining' instead of 'began to decline'). Spelling is generally accurate, but the overall lexical range is narrow and minimally adequate for the task, fitting a Band 5.0 descriptor.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response features a very limited range of grammatical structures. It relies primarily on simple sentences or poorly linked compound clauses joined by coordinating conjunctions. There are several run-on sentences and punctuation errors, such as comma splices or missing full stops (e.g., 'And second sector which is currently giving most jobs is retail sector it produced...'). Complex structures are rarely attempted, and when they are, they contain errors ('tells even though jobs in manufacturing sector reduced'). Because of the frequent structural limitations and punctuation faults, a Band 5.0 is appropriate.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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