Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-07

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 line graph tells the count of jobs in four sectors of the economy in US, from 1960 to 2020. The jobs number is given in million with the multiple of 5 starting from zero.The gap between years is 20 years beginning from 1960.The line graph shows 1980 has highest peak in manufacturing sector about 20 millions jobs.Retail and Health care on its highest in 2020 with more than 15 millions.Agriculture peak in 1960 with more then 5 millions.

The line of manufacturing gradually increases from 1960 to 1980 from 15 millions to 20 millions.After 1980, their is fall in this type and in 2020 it stops at about 13 millions.The retail line shows constant upgrading from 1960 to 2020 starting from 7 millions to 16 millions respectfully. Agriculture eventually decrease from 7 millions to less than 5 millions and remain constant from 1980 to 200. Health care sector begins with less than 5 millions in1960 but it is on its peak in 2020 with maore than 15 millions jobs.

Hence,in conclusion, retail and health care shows significant grading up with more than 15 millions . Manufacturing also faces glow down. Agriculture drop from 1960 to 2020 is also significant.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify several important patterns: manufacturing peaks in 1980 before declining, while retail and healthcare rise and agriculture falls. However, some figures and comparisons are inaccurate: retail starts at about 6 million, not 7 million, and agriculture is about 6 million in 1960, not 7 million. The claim that agriculture remains constant from 1980 to 2000 is broadly supported, but “200” is unclear, and the overview does not clearly state that healthcare and retail finish at roughly the same level. The response reports relevant features, but the overview and data selection are only partly clear and some details are under-developed. More accurate figures and a concise overview of the main contrasts would strengthen the report.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic progression from an introduction to broad observations and then sector-by-sector details, so the reader can follow its general purpose. However, the opening combines several observations without a clear overview, and the final “Hence, in conclusion” repeats earlier points rather than synthesising them. Connections between ideas are sometimes awkward or unclear, as in “The retail line shows constant upgrading … respectfully,” and the sector descriptions do not consistently follow a clear comparison pattern. Paragraphing is limited, with the whole report presented as one block. Use a separate overview paragraph, group related trends, and choose clear linking phrases to make the progression more logical.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant chart vocabulary such as “line graph,” “peak,” “gradually increases,” and “remain constant,” which helps communicate the main trends. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, sometimes making the meaning difficult to interpret. For example, “constant upgrading” and “significant grading up” are not natural ways to describe rising figures; “glow down” is unclear, and “respectfully” appears to be an incorrect choice for “respectively.” There are also spelling errors such as “maore” and “then” where “than” is intended. Build a reliable set of trend verbs and comparison phrases, and check spelling and word forms before finishing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, including comparisons across years, but control is inconsistent. Errors in sentence structure and agreement appear in examples such as “Retail and Health care on its highest” and “retail and health care shows,” while “their is fall” has an incorrect verb form and missing article. Some sentences also lack appropriate punctuation or spacing, for example “zero.The” and “in1960.” These problems sometimes make relationships between figures harder to follow. Practise accurate subject–verb agreement, articles, and complete sentence patterns, especially when describing changes over time. Then proofread for sentence boundaries and punctuation so that your comparisons are easier to understand.

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