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 provided line graph illustrates how the available jobs for four different sectors of economy in the US vary in 60 years, from 1960 to 2020.

The overall analysis shows that especially after 1980 there has been decrease in number of jobs observed, as far as manufacturing and healthcare is concerned however there has been ultimate surge in number in agriculture and retail sector of economy.

Initially, it has been observed that in 1960 manufacturing sector reported the highest number of jobs i.e. 15 million which continued growing until 1980 to 20 million however, the available jobs in this sector dropped to 13 million in next 40 years. Besides this, there were 6 million jobs available in agriculture and retail sector of US in 1960, however, this number increased sharply until 2000 to 15 million, and with increment still there and continuing growing with less steeper rate to 16 million in 2020. Whereas on other side, in agriculture sector from 5 million jobs this number decrease to 3 million in 1980 and continued falling to 2 million jobs till 2020.

Moreover, in healthcare sector although there has been the lowest number observed initially i.e. 2 million but this kept rising through 60 years, with 16 million jobs observed in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The student successfully covers all four sectors of the economy (manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and healthcare) across the 60-year period from 1960 to 2020. An overall trend is attempted in the introduction and second paragraph, noting the shifts over time. Key features, such as manufacturing peaking in 1980 at 20 million and healthcare rising from 2 million to 16 million, are correctly identified and reported with accurate data from the chart. Comparisons are made between sectors, such as contrasting the decline in agriculture with the surge in retail and healthcare. However, the overview contains a confusing factual mix-up by stating there was a 'surge in number in agriculture', whereas agriculture actually experienced a steady decline from 6 million (or 5 million depending on the starting point) down to 2 million. Despite this minor misstatement in the overview, the main trends are adequately selected and supported.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response is logically organised into four paragraphs: an introduction, an overview paragraph, and two body paragraphs detailing the specific data trends. Cohesive devices are used to guide the reader through the information, including transition phrases like 'Initially', 'Besides this', 'Whereas on other side', and 'Moreover'. Paragraphing is appropriate and separates the overview from the detailed body points. However, referencing and cohesion occasionally become slightly clunky or mechanical, such as the phrase 'with increment still there and continuing growing with less steeper rate', which disrupts the natural flow of the sentence. Progression is generally clear throughout, ensuring the reader can follow the comparisons between the different economic sectors easily.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary suitable for an academic task describing data trends, using terms such as 'illustrates', 'fluctuate' (implied via vary), 'surge', 'dropped', and 'sharply'. Less common lexical items are attempted, such as 'stepper rate' (though grammatically flawed, intended as 'steep rate') and 'ultimate surge'. There are some word choice and collocation inaccuracies, notably 'available jobs for four different sectors of economy' (instead of 'in four sectors'), 'decrease in number of jobs observed, as far as manufacturing and healthcare is concerned however there has been ultimate surge' (awkward phrasing and punctuation), and 'less steeper rate'. Spelling is generally accurate, but vocabulary control prevents the response from reaching a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses and introductory prepositional phrases ('In 1960 manufacturing sector reported...', 'Although there has been the lowest number observed initially...'). There are, however, several grammatical errors and awkward structures present. For instance, 'how the available jobs... vary in 60 years' lacks precision ('vary over a 60-year period'), and articles are frequently missing ('in manufacturing sector', 'in agriculture sector'). Furthermore, run-on sentences and punctuation slips occur, such as 'however, the available jobs in this sector dropped to 13 million in next 40 years' and 'with increment still there and continuing growing with less steeper rate'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to restrict the score to a Band 6.0.

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