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 given line chart illustrates information about total number of jobs in 4 different sectors which are the part of economy in the united states in 4 different years with 20 years of gap in them.

Overall, jobs at manufacturing were at the highest in every year, but gradually declined and went down from retail and healthcare jobs at the end of the given period. Meanwhile, jobs in agriculturtal section were almost lowest in each year.

Talking about healthcare sector, it was at the lowest at the starting of 1960 with jobs around 2 millions, but then as year passes, it gradually started providing jobs around 17 millions surpassing both manufacturing and retail section. Meanwhile, retail sector had a same growth starting with 7 million jobs in 1960, and surged around 17 million at the end of the period.

Though, manufacturing section was providing the highest numbers of job from the start of year 1960,and reach a peak in 1980 providing 20 millions of job, but it started gradually declining its number in jobs and ended

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad pattern that manufacturing starts as the largest sector and later loses ground, while agriculture remains among the smallest. However, the overview is inaccurate: manufacturing is not highest in every year, because by 2020 retail and healthcare are both about 16 million jobs, above manufacturing at roughly 13 million. The body also says healthcare reaches around 17 million and surpasses both sectors, whereas the chart shows about 16 million, level with retail, and below manufacturing in 1980 and 2000. Agriculture is mentioned only generally, with its decline from about 6 million to 2 million not described. The response therefore selects relevant features but reports some key comparisons incorrectly and leaves important trends underdeveloped.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing healthcare, retail and manufacturing. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, the progression is incomplete because the final sentence breaks off at “ended”, leaving the manufacturing trend unfinished, and agriculture receives no detailed account. Linking phrases such as “Overall”, “Meanwhile” and “Though” help connect points, but “Meanwhile” is repeated and the contrast introduced by “Though” is not completed smoothly. Grouping the sectors by their main trends and ensuring each paragraph develops a complete comparison would make the organisation clearer and cohesion less mechanical.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant chart vocabulary, including “gradually declined”, “peak”, “surged” and “surpassing”, which helps communicate changes over time. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or awkward for this task. “Jobs at manufacturing” and “agriculturtal section” are not natural sector descriptions, while “providing jobs” is repeated instead of using more precise reporting language such as “employment stood at” or “the sector employed”. There are also spelling and form errors, including “agriculturtal”, and phrases such as “a same growth” reduce clarity. Aim for accurate collocations and vary the language used to describe rises, falls and comparisons.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some complex sentence forms, for example the contrast beginning “Though, manufacturing section…” and the time clause “as year passes”. However, these structures are often faulty, and several sentences contain errors in articles, agreement, plurals or tense. Examples include “the highest in every year” (the chart’s final comparison contradicts this), “as year passes”, “a same growth”, and “reach a peak” after the past-time reference. The final sentence is also incomplete, ending with “and ended”. These problems sometimes make relationships between ideas difficult to follow. Practise building complete sentences with consistent past-tense verbs, correct articles and plural forms, and check punctuation around introductory linking words.

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