Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-05

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 5.5)

the graph illustrates that the details of number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the america in between 1960 to 2020. the counts in millions.

overall,it is clear that the four sectors are increased and reduced throughout the 1960 to 2020 . the health care sector was go up gradually and the manufacturing sector was slightly reduced from compared to where it started.

healthcare and retail sectors was gradually increased throughout 60 years compared to other sectors. and more importantly they were have same level of job in 2020.this health care was having around 2 millions of jobs in 1960 but it gradually incresed and in 2020 it was reached to 15 millions and same retail also.

while another two sectors agriculture and manufacturing where gradually fall from where they are in , agriculture sectore was started in around 6 millions in 1960 but in 2020 it was in around 3 millions and munufacture was in 15 millions in 1960 and it was go up in 1980 but in 2020 it was in arround in 13 millions.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses the task partially, attempting to present an overview and select main features from the line graph. However, the formulation of the introductory statement is flawed, copying heavily from the prompt and failing to form a complete, accurate sentence ('the graph illustrates that the details of number of jobs...'). The overview is somewhat vague and underdeveloped, stating simply that the four sectors 'are increased and reduced', while some of the specific data points reported contain inaccuracies, such as claiming healthcare started at around 2 million and reached 15 million in 2020 (whereas the visual data shows it started around 2 million and rose to 16 million, matching retail). Ideas are limited, and the presentation lacks the fully extended support and clarity needed to reach the next band level.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is some basic organisation in the response, but it lacks a clear overall progression. The writing is clumped together into one long, messy block of text following a brief opening sentence, failing to use paragraphing effectively to structure different parts of the visual data. Cohesive devices are used rather repetitively and mechanically, with heavy reliance on simple connective structures like 'while another two sectors' and 'and more importantly'. Furthermore, referencing and tracking of data across the years are occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the logical flow of comparisons seamlessly. To improve, the writer needs to group related data into distinct paragraphs and employ a wider, more natural range of cohesive links.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is limited and barely adequate for the task. The writer attempts some topic-specific terms related to the visual data, such as 'sectors', 'economy', 'manufacturing', and 'agriculture', but struggles significantly with word choice, word formation, and spelling. There are noticeable errors throughout the text, including 'incresed' instead of increased, 'munufacture' instead of manufacture, and 'sectore' instead of sector. Furthermore, awkward phrasing such as 'same retail also' and 'have same level of job' demonstrates a restricted lexical range and causes some difficulty for the reader. To achieve a higher band, the writer must expand their vocabulary range and eliminate basic spelling and word-choice errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The grammatical structures employed are quite limited, consisting mostly of basic sentences alongside faulty attempts at complex ones. There are frequent errors in grammar, punctuation, and tense control that cause difficulty for the reader. Examples include missing articles and incorrect prepositions or verb forms, such as 'the details of number of jobs', 'the health care sector was go up', 'they were have same level', and 'agriculture sectore was started in around 6 millions'. Subject-verb agreement and passive/active voice choices are frequently mishandled, as seen in 'manufacturing sector was slightly reduced from compared to where it started'. Punctuation is also weak, with run-on sentences and a lack of capitalization at the beginning of sentences.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.