Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The line graph illustrate the information about the number of jobs in four sectors ( Manufacturing ,Retail, Agriculture, Health ) of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020. Units are measured in millions.

Overall, number of jobs in manufacturing sector reached its peak in 1980 about 20 millions. After 1980 its figure declined. In contrast, employment in healthcare and retail increased considerably. However, agriculture experienced an overall decrease and had the fewest jobs by 2020.

In 1960, manufacturing provided almost 15 millions jobs, making it the largest sector. This figure then rose to around 20 millions in 1980, before falling to about 16.5 million in 2000 and 12.5 million in 2020.

Retail increased steadily from 6 to 15 million. Meanwhile, health care also increased considerably, from 2 to 15 million. However, agriculture declined from 6 million jobs to 1.5 million in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main patterns: manufacturing peaks in 1980 and then declines, retail and healthcare rise, and agriculture falls to the lowest level by 2020. The overview is relevant, and most figures are close to the chart. However, some details are incomplete or inaccurate: retail reaches about 16 million in 2020, but your account stops at 15 million; healthcare reaches about 16 million, not 15 million; and manufacturing is about 17 million in 2000 rather than 16.5 million. The response also contains 125 words, below the required 150, which limits how fully you can report and compare the data. Add the final-year figures and develop comparisons between the sectors.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and a paragraph of supporting figures. The overview also helps the reader understand the main trends before the details. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “In contrast,” and “Meanwhile” make relationships between trends clear. However, the final paragraph groups the sectors in a somewhat list-like way, and the comparisons are not developed consistently—for example, retail and healthcare are both described as rising, but their different starting points and end values are not compared. The short response also leaves some trends without a complete account. Organise the details into clearer comparisons, such as manufacturing and agriculture versus the two expanding sectors, and use linking phrases to show how their trajectories differ.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing a line graph, including “reached its peak,” “declined,” “increased considerably,” and “overall decrease.” These choices communicate the broad trends effectively. However, some wording is imprecise or repetitive: “figure” is used for different data series, and “increased considerably” appears for both retail and healthcare without distinguishing their rates or final levels. There are also awkward collocations and forms, such as “15 millions jobs” and “number of jobs … in four sectors.” Use standard data-reporting phrases and more precise terms for employment levels and changes. A wider range of accurate verbs and comparison language would make the account more flexible and precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including the contrast in “In contrast, employment in healthcare and retail increased considerably” and the time sequence “before falling to about 16.5 million in 2000 and 12.5 million in 2020.” Meaning is generally clear, but some grammatical errors remain. The opening has subject–verb disagreement: “The line graph illustrate” should be “The line graph illustrates.” There are also article and number-form problems in “Overall, number of jobs” and “15 millions jobs”; write “the number of jobs” and “15 million jobs.” Check spacing around punctuation and brackets as well. More consistently accurate agreement, articles, and plural forms would strengthen control while retaining your varied sentence structures.

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