Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-30

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 fluctuation of number of jobs in manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and healthcare in US from 1960 to 2020. The values are measured in millions.

Overall, jobs in retail and agriculture have relatively less fluctuations and increased considerable over the period. By contrast, manufacturing and healthcare had a continuous reduction in the number of jobs.

In 1960, manufacturing had the most number of jobs at 15 millions and peaked at 20 millions in 1980. However, from there, it started to fall down steadily and reached to around 17 millions in 2000 and 13 millions in 2020. Furthermore, jobs in healthcare reduced from just over 5 millions in 1960 to around 4 millions in 1980 and after that, it remained similar in 2000 and had a steady decrease by around 1 millions in 2020.

Agriculture started with the lowest number of jobs at around 2 millions in 1960, had a considerable increase to 5 millions in 1980 and then, continued to have a sharp increase, contributing more than 10 millions in 2000 and spiked at around 16 millions in 2020. In 2020, it is sharing the maximum number of job with retail which was around 6 millions in 1960 and continued to grow considerably over time and reached in 10 millions in 1980, and 15 millions in 2000 before reaching to the top in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

The response attempts to summarise the main features and trends of the graph, but it contains major factual inaccuracies regarding the data. For instance, the student states that jobs in retail and agriculture had relatively less fluctuations and increased considerably, whereas the chart clearly shows that agricultural jobs declined over the period. Furthermore, the descriptions of the individual sector trends are frequently mixed up or misread; the student confuses the trajectories of healthcare and agriculture in the second half of the response. While an overview is attempted, the pervasive misinterpretation of the visual data significantly impacts task fulfilment, resulting in a score of 4.5.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay is divided into logical paragraphs, beginning with an introduction and an overall summary, followed by body paragraphs detailing the data. Cohesive devices are used to signal progression, such as 'Overall', 'In 1960', 'However', and 'Furthermore'. However, the logical progression is undermined by the confusing grouping of data, where different sectors are jumbled together inaccurately. Paragraphing is adequate, but referencing and transitions occasionally become mechanical or confusing due to the incorrect data points being linked together. Cohesion is sufficient for a band 5.5.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The student attempts a range of vocabulary relevant to describing trends, using terms like 'fluctuation', 'steady decrease', 'peaked', and 'considerable increase'. However, there are notable word choice and collocation errors, such as 'increased considerable' (instead of considerably), 'most number of jobs' (highest number), and 'sharing the maximum number of job'. Additionally, some phrases are awkward, such as 'reached to around'. The vocabulary is adequate for basic task communication, but the numerous lexical errors and inaccuracies restrict the score to a 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'The line chart illustrates the fluctuation of number of jobs...' and 'Agriculture started with the lowest number of jobs at around 2 millions in 1960...'. There are several grammatical errors throughout the text, including article omissions ('in US' instead of 'in the US'), incorrect prepositions ('reached to'), and pluralisation errors ('millions' instead of 'million'). While these errors do not completely obscure the meaning, their frequency across complex and simple sentences places the grammar performance firmly within band 5.0.

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