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 graph represents the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US.

Overall, Agriculture is the lowest and retail is the highest in the time period from 1960 to 2020.

In 1960 Agriculture was highest in comparison with Healthcare but was lowest in comparison with Manufacturing but same with retail. Then gradually it decreased in comparison with all three sectors. On the other hand Manufaturing was the highest from 1960 to 2000. It was still in a higher position in comparison with the agriculture sector. Then it fell in comparison with the retail sector but was at the same level with healthcare sector. From 2000 to 2020, manufacturing kept declining in comparison with Retail and Healthcare sector but still was the higher position than the agriculture. Lastly, Healthcare sector was at very lowest in comparison with all the other sectors in 1960 but then gradually it kept raising till the year 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

The response is under the required 150-word minimum, containing only 143 words. The student attempts to report on the four sectors, but the overview is inaccurate regarding the trends (stating agriculture was the lowest throughout, whereas healthcare started lower, and misidentifying retail as highest throughout). The information is presented largely through repetitive comparative phrases rather than clear reporting of main features and data points. Key features, such as the dramatic rise in healthcare and the peak and decline of manufacturing, are partially addressed, but the overall presentation is limited and lacks a fully developed overview.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is an attempt at organization with an opening sentence and an overview, followed by body sentences tracking the data. However, the response lacks clear overall progression and logical sequencing, partly because all the body information is crammed into a single block of text rather than being properly paragraphed. Cohesive devices are repetitive and basic, relying heavily on mechanical transitions like 'Then gradually', 'On the other hand', and 'Lastly', which makes the flow mechanical and sometimes confusing to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate to communicate basic data trends, but it is repetitive and limited in range. Words related to trends such as 'increased', 'decreased', and 'raised' are used simply. There are minor vocabulary and spelling inaccuracies, such as 'Manufaturing' instead of manufacturing, and 'raising' instead of rising. The student attempts some less common vocabulary related to the task, but word choice and collocation lack precision, keeping the Lexical Resource at this level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, though attempts at complex comparisons often result in awkward or faulty structures, such as 'was highest in comparison with Healthcare but was lowest in comparison with Manufacturing but same with retail.' There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly missing articles ('the lowest', 'the higher position'), incorrect prepositions, and punctuation issues. These errors occur throughout the text, though they generally do not completely impede the reader's understanding of the intended meaning.

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

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