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)
The given line graph illustrates information about the proportion of jobs in manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare sectors of the economy in the US from 1960 to 2020. Units are measured in millions.
Overviewing this graph, the figure for manufacturing was the higest at the beginning of the period, whereas health care was the higest in the end. Manufacturing and agriculture followed a down ward trend, while retail and healthcare followed an upward trend over the period.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0
The response identifies the main overall trends (downward trends for manufacturing and agriculture; upward trends for retail and healthcare) and notes the starting and ending highest points correctly. However, the student incorrectly refers to the data as 'proportions' instead of absolute numbers of jobs. More importantly, the response is severely under-length at only 77 words compared to the required 150 words. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed, leading to a lower score for this criterion.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response is organized into a brief introduction and an overview paragraph, which provides a logical structure. Basic cohesive devices and transition signals such as 'whereas' and 'while' are used to contrast the trends of different sectors. However, because the text is extremely short and lacks a detailed body paragraph to group and develop the specific data points, the overall progression and paragraphing are limited. Referencing and cohesive flow are somewhat basic.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary relevant to the visual data, including terms like 'sectors', 'economy', 'downward trend', and 'upward trend'. There are a few spelling and typographical errors, such as 'higest' instead of 'highest' and 'down ward' instead of 'downward'. The range is sufficient for the basic points attempted, but the severe lack of length limits the display of a wider, flexible lexical resource.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as using subordinate clauses with 'whereas' and 'while'. Control of basic grammar is generally acceptable, with accurate subject-verb agreement in sentences like 'Manufacturing and agriculture followed a down ward trend'. There are a few minor spelling errors, but sentence structures are clear and do not impede communication. However, the limited length restricts the variety of grammatical structures displayed.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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