Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)
The line chart illustrates the total number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020.
Overall, it is evident from the line graph that employment in the manufacturing and agriculture sectors decreased over the years. In contrast, the number of jobs in the retail and healthcare sectors increased throughout the period.
Initially, in 1960, employment in the manufacturing sector stood at 17 million jobs. However, it increased in 1980 before declining gradually. By 2020, employment in this sector had fallen slightly to 13 million. Furthermore, employment in the agricultural sector stood at 6 million in 1960. After that, it declined slightly to 5 million in 2020.
Next, employment in the retail sector stood at 6 million jobs in 1960. Additionally, it grew rapidly by 2000 and then increased gradually, reaching 16 million jobs in 2020. Similarly, the healthcare sector accounted for 3 million jobs in 1960, and employment in this sector increased significantly over the period, reaching a much higher figure in 2020.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
The student successfully covers all parts of the task by reporting the main trends and making relevant comparisons across the four economic sectors. An appropriate overall trend is identified, noting the division between declining sectors (manufacturing and agriculture) and growing ones (retail and healthcare). However, there are some minor inaccuracies when reporting specific data points compared to the visual reference. For example, manufacturing in 1960 is stated as 17 million rather than the approximately 15 million shown in the chart, and agriculture in 2020 is given as 5 million instead of about 2 million. Additionally, healthcare in 1960 started at around 2 million, but the student reports it as 3 million. Despite these minor data discrepancies, the overall picture and major comparisons are well-reported and fulfill the requirements of Task 1.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The response has a clear overall arrangement and follows a logical progression. The introduction is followed by an effective overview paragraph, and the body paragraphs are logically divided, with one paragraph grouping the declining sectors (manufacturing and agriculture) and another covering the growing sectors (retail and healthcare). Cohesive devices are used adequately to connect ideas, such as "In contrast," "Initially," and "Furthermore." Paragraphing is used appropriately to structure the essay. However, referencing and cohesive links are sometimes a bit formulaic or mechanical, preventing the response from reaching a higher band score.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for the task, successfully employing terms related to trends such as "decreased," "declining gradually," "grew rapidly," and "increased significantly." There are some attempts to use less common vocabulary, but minor inaccuracies in data interpretation affect precise lexical precision. Word choice is generally appropriate and communication is never impeded by lexical errors. Spelling and word formation are accurate throughout the response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5
The student demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms, using a variety of structures to report the data (e.g., "After that, it declined slightly to 5 million in 2020" and "Additionally, it grew rapidly by 2000 and then increased gradually"). Control of grammar and punctuation is generally good, with frequent error-free sentences. Minor errors are present, primarily tied to data precision rather than structural breakdowns, but these do not impede communication. The overall grammatical control aligns well with the descriptors for Band 7.
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