Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · 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 4.0)

The line gragh illustrates the number of professions in four different sections of the US economy from 1960 to 2020. These jobs were measured in millions.

Overall, it can be seen that healthcare and retail sectors recorded the highest number of jobs over the yea

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word length requirement of 150 words, stopping abruptly at only 45 words and cutting off mid-sentence. Because of this extreme brevity, the task is addressed only minimally. While the student successfully identifies the general topic of the line graph and attempts to introduce an overview by mentioning the healthcare and retail sectors, the response does not present a fully developed overview, omits key data trends for manufacturing and agriculture, and makes no comparisons. To improve, the student must write a complete response that exceeds the word count, includes all major trends and categories from the visual data, and provides clear comparisons across the given timeframe.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The text begins with a logical introductory sentence and a transition into an overview paragraph, which demonstrates an awareness of standard essay structure. However, because the response cuts off mid-sentence after only a few lines, it is impossible to evaluate paragraph progression or cohesive devices fully. The cohesion that is present relies on simple referencing ('it can be seen that...'), but organizational progression remains undeveloped due to the severe lack of content. To achieve a higher band, the writer needs to produce a full essay, linking ideas cohesively across multiple paragraphs with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a well-supported conclusion.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The student demonstrates an adequate basic vocabulary range suitable for describing economic charts, using words such as 'illustrates', 'professions', 'sectors', and 'economy'. However, there is a noticeable lexical error in the first sentence: the word 'gragh' is misspelled, and 'professions' is less precise than 'jobs' or 'employment' in the context of economic sectors. Because the text is extremely short, the range of vocabulary is severely limited and fails to show flexibility or less common lexical items. To improve, the student should expand their writing to incorporate a wider variety of precise synonyms, such as 'employment figures', 'industries', and 'trend'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The opening sentences demonstrate correct simple sentence structure and appropriate use of the past tense ('illustrates', 'were measured', 'recorded'). Articles and prepositions are used accurately in the limited text produced ('in four different sections of the US economy'). However, the grammatical range is extremely restricted because the text cuts off abruptly, leaving the response unfinished and preventing the display of complex sentence forms. To reach a higher level, the student must write a complete essay utilizing a diverse mix of complex sentence structures, subordinate clauses, and accurate grammatical forms throughout an extended text.

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

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