Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
The line chart illustrates the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020.
Overall, retail and healthcare experienced an upward trajectory, while agriculture showed the opposite pattern. However, manufacturing was in the top position at the beginning of the period; it became the second-highest by the end of the period. In addition, retail and healthcare recorded the highest figures by the end of the period, whereas agriculture registered the lowest figure by the end of the period.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0
The response successfully identifies the overall trends of the data, noting the upward trajectories of retail and healthcare, the downward trend of agriculture, and the fluctuations in manufacturing. An appropriate overview is provided. However, the response is severely under-length, containing only 85 words against the minimum requirement of 150 words. Furthermore, it omits key data points and specific comparisons across the time intervals. Due to the significant under-length penalty and lack of fully developed body paragraphs detailing specific figures, it falls into the lower band categories.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The text maintains a basic overall arrangement and is divided into an introduction and an overview/body paragraph. Cohesive devices such as 'while', 'however', and 'in addition' are used to connect ideas. However, because the text is extremely brief, logical progression is restricted and paragraphing is underdeveloped. Referencing is generally clear, but the lack of extended body paragraphs prevents a fuller demonstration of cohesive management.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, featuring appropriate terms such as 'upward trajectory', 'top position', and 'lowest figure'. There are attempts at less common phrasing, and no spelling or word-choice errors are evident in the limited text produced. However, the range of vocabulary is constrained by the brevity of the response, preventing higher-level lexical demonstration.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The student demonstrates control over simple and complex sentence structures, using clauses accurately in sentences such as 'The line chart illustrates the number of jobs...' and 'retail and healthcare experienced an upward trajectory, while agriculture showed the opposite pattern.' Grammatical accuracy is high within the sentences provided, with no noticeable errors. Nevertheless, the range of structures is limited simply due to the shortness of the response.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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