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 illustrates the numbers of jobs in four different sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, it is clear that majority of the jobs are in the manufacturing in 1960, but after 2010 it had undercome from retail and healthcare. Agriculture had the least proportion in this given graph. Numbers are measured in millions.

At a fleeting glance, manufacturing had the highest proportion in 1950, at 15%. It had increased rapidly in 1980 in term of 20%. Later, it had a fall of 4% in 2000 and it continues in 2020 at 13%. Followed by, retail had 6% in 1960 but it rose sharply after two decades, accounted at 10%. It had increase significantly in 2000, figure at 15%. In 2020 retail had a slightly rise at 16%.

Meanwhile, healthcare represented 3% in 1960. It was increased modertly in 1980 at 5%. It had increased dramtically in 2000, accounted at 11%. It was continously increasing in 2020 at 16%. Moreover, agriculture had figured 6% in 1960 which was decresed gradually in 1980 at 4% and represent same in 2000. It had the smallest share in 2020 at 3%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the four sectors and give an overview that manufacturing starts highest while agriculture is the smallest overall, then describe the main movements. However, several details are inaccurate or unclear: manufacturing is said to be highest in 1950 rather than 1960, and healthcare begins at 3 million rather than the chart’s 2 million. Agriculture is reported as 4 million in 1980 and 2000, although it is about 3 million at both points, and the claim that manufacturing was overtaken “after 2010” is imprecise: retail and healthcare are both around 16 million by 2020. The overview also says “majority,” which suggests more than half. More accurate comparisons and a clearer summary of the end-point rankings would make the report more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs grouping manufacturing with retail and healthcare with agriculture. This helps the reader follow the four series. However, progression within the paragraphs is sometimes mechanical, with repeated openings such as “It had” and “It was,” and connectors including “Followed by” and “Moreover” do not always show the relationship between the data clearly. The overview’s reference to being overtaken “after 2010” is also difficult to connect to the four plotted years. Use clearer comparisons between sectors at the same dates, and link each sentence to the previous trend rather than relying on repeated transition phrases.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of trend vocabulary, including “increased rapidly,” “rose sharply,” “fall,” and “smallest share,” so the main movements are generally understandable. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “highest proportion” for job totals, “undercome from,” “a slightly rise,” and “accounted at.” The response also uses percentages (“15%,” “6%”) even though the chart reports jobs in millions, which makes the data description less precise. Spelling errors such as “modertly,” “dramtically,” “continously,” and “decresed” are noticeable. Aim for accurate units and natural reporting phrases such as “stood at,” “rose to,” and “was overtaken by.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentences, and the overall meaning can usually be followed. However, errors occur frequently in sentence construction and verb forms, which sometimes make relationships between figures unclear. Examples include “it continues in 2020 at 13,” where the past-tense report should be maintained, and “It was increased” / “It had increase,” which use incorrect verb forms. Articles and agreement are also problematic in “majority of the jobs are in the manufacturing” and “retail had a slightly rise.” Some sentence fragments or awkwardly attached phrases, such as “Followed by, retail…,” further weaken control. Practise consistent past-tense descriptions and build complete sentences with accurate articles and verb patterns.

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