Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · 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 4.0)

This line graph illustrate the number of employment in four sectors of the economy in US of Manufacturing, Retal, Agriculture, Healthcare from 1960 and 2020.

Overall, the manufacturing jobs the most highest of 19 millions in 1960, and the retail job of second highest 15 millions in 2000. These are the two bigest jobs in this years.

Moreover,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response identifies the chart’s subject and attempts an overview by comparing manufacturing and retail, but it does not adequately summarise the main features. The claim that manufacturing had its highest figure of 19 million in 1960 is inaccurate: it was about 15 million then and peaked at 20 million in 1980. Retail reached about 15 million in 2000, but healthcare also rose substantially and reached roughly 16 million by 2020; agriculture declined to around 2 million. These important trends are omitted, and the response ends before developing its account. It is also well below the required 150 words. To improve, include a clear overview of the contrasting trends and support it with accurate comparisons across the period.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: an opening sentence is followed by a paragraph beginning “Overall,” which signals an overview. However, the ideas do not progress into a complete summary, and the final “Moreover,” is left unfinished. The comparison between manufacturing and retail is not developed or connected to the other two sectors, so the reader receives only fragments rather than a coherent account of the graph. Use a clear sequence: introduce the chart, summarise the main trends, then group and compare the sector details. Complete each paragraph and use linking expressions only when they introduce a fully stated idea.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response uses some relevant chart vocabulary, including “line graph,” “sectors,” “manufacturing,” and “millions,” so the topic is generally recognisable. However, the range is narrow and several word choices or forms are inaccurate: “number of employment” is not a natural expression, “Retal” is misspelled, and “the most highest” is redundant. “These are the two biggest jobs” is also imprecise because the writer means sectors with the largest numbers of jobs. Use standard terms such as “number of jobs,” “employment,” “highest,” and “largest sectors,” and check spelling. A wider range of accurate trend verbs, such as “rose,” “declined,” and “remained stable,” would help describe the data.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts a simple present-tense introduction and an overview sentence, but grammatical control is inconsistent. In “This line graph illustrate,” the singular subject requires “illustrates”; “in US” needs an article, and the phrase “from 1960 and 2020” uses the wrong construction for a time span. The sentence beginning “Overall” also lacks a clear grammatical structure around “the manufacturing jobs the most highest.” Sentence forms are mostly simple, with little variety, and the unfinished “Moreover,” leaves a fragment rather than a complete sentence. Practise accurate subject–verb agreement, articles, and time expressions, then build complete sentences using comparisons such as “while” or “whereas.”

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