Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-03

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 graph tracks the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the United States between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, it is clear that retail and healthcare represented the highest jobs in millions at the end of the period while agriculture made up the lowest jobs in millions over the period in the United States.

In 1960, manufacturing sector dominates the jobs in millions compared to other sectors which is roughly equal to 15 millions.In 1980, agriculture sector dramatically increased with approximately 20 millions.But year by year , agriculture sector in jobs declined and reached a less than 15 millions.

In 1960, retail and healthcare sector both are constituted less millions in jobs but over the period retail and healthcare overtook the manufacturing sector with rapidly more than 15 millions. Agriculture sector in the United States economy in 1960 accounted for more than 5 millions which is equal to retail sector of jobs.However at the end of th period, agriculture sector slightly decreased and had the lowest jobs in millions compared to other sector in the United States economy.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses the task partially, covering some main features of the line graph while containing several notable inaccuracies and misinterpretations of the data. For instance, the writer claims that in 1980 the agriculture sector dramatically increased to approximately 20 millions, whereas the graph clearly shows agriculture dropping to about 3 millions while manufacturing peaked at 20 millions. Similarly, confusing phrasing like 'highest jobs in millions at the end of the period' indicates a limited ability to report data precisely. While an overview is attempted, the confusion surrounding the data points means that key trends are only partially and inaccurately developed. To reach a higher level, you must carefully read the axes and labels to ensure your reported figures and trends accurately reflect the visual data provided.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response demonstrates some organisation, but there is no clear overall progression of ideas, and referencing is frequently confusing. The text is divided into paragraphs, but the logical flow is disrupted by contradictory statements and awkward transitions, such as starting a sentence with 'But year by year'. Cohesive devices are used mechanically and sometimes inaccurately, such as repetitive phrasing like 'jobs in millions' and 'agriculture sector'. Pronoun referencing and linking between sentences also lack clarity, making the development of ideas difficult to follow. To improve Coherence and Cohesion, you should use a wider variety of cohesive links naturally, ensure each paragraph has a distinct and logically sequenced focus, and avoid repeating the same sentence patterns.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is limited and repetitive, which is characteristic of this level. Throughout the text, the writer overuses basic phrases such as 'jobs in millions' and 'the United States economy'. There are also noticeable errors in word choice, form, and collocation, such as 'constituted less millions in jobs' and 'rapidly more than 15 millions'. These lexical inaccuracies and restricted range mean the vocabulary is only minimally adequate for the task. To achieve a higher score, you should build a broader range of vocabulary related to data trends and paraphrase key terms rather than repeating the exact wording from the prompt.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response relies on a limited range of sentence structures, and attempts at more complex sentences frequently result in grammatical errors. There are frequent mistakes with verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, and prepositions, such as 'manufacturing sector dominates' (in a past-tense context), 'reached a less than 15 millions', and 'at the end of th period'. Additionally, article usage is inconsistent, as seen in 'both are constituted less millions'. These frequent errors can cause difficulty for the reader and obscure the intended meaning. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence structures, maintaining correct past-tense consistency when describing historical data, and checking your work for basic grammatical accuracy.

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