Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-08

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 6.5)

The line graph illustrates the number of jobs available in four different sectors which take part in the USA' economy over a period of 60 years.

It is clear that the Retail and the Healthcare sectors were creating more job opportunities at the end of given period. In contrast, Agriculture sector provides least number of jobs to the individuals.

In 1960, the Manufacturing sector leading the USA economy by providing 15 million jobs and the number even increased and was peaking in 1980 with 20 million jobs. Subsequently, it started decreasing and accommodate people with around 13 million jobs at the end of 2020. The Agriculture sector creates almost 6 million jobs in the year 1960. Thereafter, the sector faced decrease in the number of job opportunities in the 1960 when there was around 3 million jobs to the citizens. The number remained same in the 2000 and after that reduced to 2 million jobs.

The Retail sector started with the same number of jobs as the healthcare sector produced in 1960, however the sector continuously grow with the Healthcare sector which start from the least share in the USA economy with only 2 million jobs. Both the sectors countinously provided more and more jobs with the time and ended with around 16 million job opportunities at the end of 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main overall contrast: retail and healthcare employment rose, while agriculture remained the smallest sector, and you report several key figures accurately, including manufacturing’s peak of 20 million and its fall to about 13 million. The response also covers all four sectors. However, the overview could be more complete: it does not clearly state that manufacturing was the largest sector in 1960 and 1980, while retail and healthcare both reached about 16 million by 2020. Some details are unclear or inaccurate, particularly “the sector faced decrease … in the 1960,” which misstates the period of agriculture’s decline. The main features are present, but clearer comparisons and more precise reporting would make the summary more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction and overview to details about manufacturing and agriculture, then retail and healthcare. Time markers such as “In 1960,” “Subsequently,” and “Thereafter” help show sequence, and the reader can generally follow the trends. However, the final paragraph combines two sectors in a way that makes their comparison difficult to track, especially in “the sector continuously grow with the Healthcare sector.” Some linking is also mechanical, and references such as “the sector” are not always immediately clear. Grouping the rising sectors together with a direct comparison, and using clearer topic sentences and references, would make progression more controlled and cohesive.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “peaking,” “decreasing,” “job opportunities,” and “remained same,” so the main trends are usually understandable. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “illustrates” and “in contrast.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward: “sectors which take part in the economy,” “accommodate people with … jobs,” and “the same number of jobs as the healthcare sector produced” do not express the data naturally. Spelling errors such as “countinously” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise chart language—such as “employed,” “rose,” “fell,” and “stood at”—and check spelling and collocations during revision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a contrast with “however” and a sequence introduced by “Thereafter.” Most of the trends remain understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. Examples include “the Manufacturing sector leading” (missing a finite verb), “the number … was peaking” (awkward tense construction), and “the sector continuously grow” / “which start” (incorrect verb forms). There are also article and agreement problems in phrases such as “the Agriculture sector creates” and “the number remained same.” These errors do not generally prevent understanding, but they limit accuracy. Practise consistent past-tense reporting and check that each clause has a correctly formed verb and appropriate articles.

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