Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-01

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 graph displays the amount of jobs in manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare in the US economy from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, it is evident that retail and healthcare sectors have upward trend, while manufacturing and healthcare sectors have downward trend. In 1980, the number of jobs were higher in manufacturing than other.

Firstly, in 1960, 15 millions jobs were from manufacturing sector, which was the highest in that time. In 1980, the numbers were increased upto 20 millions, then it drastically decreased to about 13 millions in 2020. In first two decades, healthcare followed the same pattern, which was decreased by approximately 2 millions. But, it remained stable from 1980 to 2020, which was 3 millions jobs.

Looking at the upward trend, retail had about 6 millions in 1960, but at the end of 2020, it became the highest number of jobs holders in US, which is about 16 millions. Also, argriculture followed the same pattern, in the beginning of 1960, the number of jobs were lower in healthcare sector( about 2 millions), but at the end it reached to more than 15 millions jobs, and became the highest jobs holders with retail.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

The response attempts to address the prompt by reporting on the number of jobs across the four sectors, but it only partially covers the task. There are significant confusion and misreadings of the data. For instance, the overview incorrectly states that manufacturing has a downward trend alongside healthcare, and later claims that agriculture followed retail's upward trend and reached over 15 million jobs, which contradicts the graph where agriculture actually declined to 2 million. These inaccurate descriptions of trends and figures mean the main features are not adequately or correctly reported. To improve toward higher bands, the response must accurately select and report true key features without misinterpreting the visual data.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is some organisation in the response, using basic paragraphing and introductory and transitional phrases like 'Firstly' and 'Looking at the upward trend'. However, there is no clear overall progression, and the logical development is hindered by contradictory statements. For example, the overview claims both manufacturing and healthcare have a downward trend, yet healthcare is correctly described later as increasing or remaining stable. Additionally, referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the sentence 'In 1980, the numbers were increased upto 20 millions, then it drastically decreased', where the pronoun reference is confused. Cohesive devices are used mechanically and sometimes inaccurately. To achieve a higher band, the information needs to be logically sequenced with clear transitions and consistent referencing throughout.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The lexical resource is limited and adequate only for basic communication. The student attempts some less common vocabulary, but this is accompanied by noticeable errors in word choice, collocation, and word formation. For example, writing 'amount of jobs' instead of 'number of jobs', 'jobs holders' instead of 'sectors' or 'employers', and 'argriculture' (a spelling error). Phrases like 'the numbers were increased upto' also demonstrate unnatural collocations. These errors cause some difficulty for the reader. To improve, the student needs to expand their range of vocabulary, use more precise reporting verbs and nouns, and ensure correct spelling and word forms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response demonstrates a limited range of sentence structures, relying primarily on simple sentences and basic attempts at complex forms that are often faulty. There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Examples include passive and active voice confusion ('the number of jobs were higher', 'the numbers were increased'), incorrect prepositions ('in that time' instead of 'at that time', 'lower in healthcare sector'), and problems with pluralisation and subject-verb agreement. These frequent errors cause strain and difficulty for the reader. To move to a higher band, the student should incorporate a wider variety of complex structures with greater control over tense consistency, subject-verb agreement, and prepositions.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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