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 graph provides the following information about jobs in four different sectors of the United States of America.
The manufacturing sector has shown a decline in jobs from 15 million in 1960 to 13 million in 2020. It created 20 million jobs at its peak in 1980. 16 million jobs were reported in 2000.
The retail sector started at 6 million jobs in 1960. It doubled in 1980. This sector rose to 15 million jobs in 2000, and ultimately reached 16 million in 2020.
The agriculture sector created 6 million jobs in 1960. But then showed a decline in 1980, with 4 million jobs. It stayed consistent till 2000, and then this number decreased to 3 million in 2020.
The healthcare sector, which had 2 million jobs in 1960, reported a remarkable increase to 16 million in 2020. It continued to grow from 5 million in 1980 to 11 million jobs in 2000.
Among the four sectors, manufacturing and agriculture are failing to provide enough jobs compared to their growth in the last two decades. Whereas retail and healthcare have consistently shown growth in the last four decades.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
The student covers all four sectors across the given time frame and successfully highlights major trends and figures, such as the peak of manufacturing in 1980 and the dramatic growth of healthcare. However, the introduction is very brief and merely restates the prompt without providing a clear overview of the main trends. Furthermore, some data points contain minor inaccuracies compared to the visual reference, such as stating agriculture had 4 million jobs in 1980 when the chart indicates approximately 3 million. The final paragraph attempts to make a concluding comparison, but 'manufacturing and agriculture are failing to provide enough jobs' is a slightly subjective interpretation. Overall, the response addresses the task adequately, earning a solid Band 6.5.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The text is arranged logically, dedicating a separate paragraph to each economic sector, which makes the report easy to follow. A final paragraph is included to provide general comparisons. Paragraphing is used appropriately throughout. Cohesive devices are used, though they tend to be basic and sometimes repetitive (e.g., starting multiple sentences with 'The ... sector'). While the overall progression is clear, referencing and transitions between sentences could be more sophisticated to establish stronger logical links between the data points. This organisation is characteristic of a Band 6.5 performance.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range suitable for describing statistical data, using terms such as 'decline', 'peak', 'doubled', and 'remarkable increase'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with some success, but there are instances of slight imprecision or repetition, such as relying heavily on the word 'jobs' and simple verbs like 'showed' and 'reported'. Spelling is accurate throughout the response. The lexical control meets the criteria for Band 6.5 as it provides sufficient flexibility for the task without significant communication barriers.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0
The response employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including relative clauses ('which had 2 million jobs in 1960') and contrasting structures ('Whereas retail and healthcare have consistently shown growth'). There are several error-free sentences, and grammar control is generally good. However, some minor awkwardness or errors persist, such as 'The manufacturing sector has shown a decline in jobs from 15 million in 1960 to 13 million in 2020. It created 20 million jobs at its peak in 1980', where chronological ordering is slightly disrupted. These minor flaws do not impede communication, placing the response firmly at Band 6.5.
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