Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-29

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 given line chart provides data about the amount of jobs in four different sectors: manufacturing,retail,agriculture,healthcare in the US, over a 60 year period, starting in 1960.

Overall it can be seen that number of jobs in retail and healthcare sector increased whereas they decreased in manufacturing and agriculture sector. Farther, jobs in agriculture sector were consistently lower over the period shown.

Looking at the data that increased in more detail it is clear that the number of jobs in healthcare sector stood at about 2 millions in 1960. After 1980 when it was 5 million, it jumped into approximately 11 million in 2000. By 2020 it had climbed to 16 million of jobs, which was the highest point on the chart. Additionally retail sector jobs showed an increment of 10 million jobs over the years from 1960 to 2020 with 6 million jobs to 16 million.

Turning to the remaining data that decreased it is evident that 6 million jobs were available in 1960 in agriculture sector. This number decreased to about 3 million in 1980 and the number was similar for the year 2000 and then again it fall to 2 million jobs in 2020. Though jobs in manufaturing sector were highest in earlier years from 1960 to 1980 and the amount were 15 million and 20 million respectively, it significantly declined almost about 7 millions for rest of the years shown on the chart.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student successfully covers all parts of the prompt by selecting and reporting the main features of the four sectors over the 60-year period. A clear overview is provided, noting the upward trends in retail and healthcare alongside the downward trends in manufacturing and agriculture. The key data points and comparisons are accurately reported, such as the peak of manufacturing in 1980 at 20 million and the significant rise in healthcare to 16 million by 2020. Minor inaccuracies in phrasing, such as 'amount of jobs' instead of 'number of jobs', do not detract from the clear and well-selected data reporting. The response fulfils all requirements of Task Achievement at a Band 7.0 level.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay is logically organised into four paragraphs: an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs separating the increasing trends from the decreasing ones. There is a clear overall progression throughout the text. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well, such as 'Overall', 'Looking at the data', and 'Turning to the remaining data'. However, some mechanical errors and awkward transitions occur, such as 'Farther' instead of 'Furthermore' and 'the data that increased', which slightly affects the natural flow of ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the main features. This performance aligns well with Band 6.5 descriptors.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating terms like 'sector', 'increment', 'significantly declined', and 'consistently lower'. However, there are noticeable word choice and collocation errors, such as 'amount of jobs' instead of 'number of jobs', 'jumped into' instead of 'jumped to', and 'manufaturing' (spelling error). Less common vocabulary is attempted with mixed success, and errors occasionally recur, though they do not impede communication. This places the lexical resource securely in the Band 6.0 category.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some control over grammar. Examples of complex structures include 'After 1980 when it was 5 million, it jumped into approximately 11 million...' and 'Though jobs in manufacturing sector were highest... it significantly declined...'. However, there are persistent grammatical errors, including missing articles ('the number of jobs in healthcare sector', 'retail sector jobs'), preposition errors ('jumped into' instead of 'jumped to'), and awkward phrasing ('it significantly declined almost about 7 millions'). These errors do not impede communication, matching the Band 6.0 descriptors.

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