Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

This is a line graph, or we can say a polygon which shows us the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US from [redacted phone].

In9 1960, there were 15 million jobs in the manufacturing industry which were the most of the four jobs shown in the graph with healthcare industry having the least number of jobs of around 2 million in number.

The jobs in manufacturing industry peaked in 1980 with 20 million jobs than it saw a decline from [redacted phone] while the retail company had a rise in number of jobs during the 60 years from 6 million to 16 million. However, the number of jobs in the agricultural industry kept declining during the following years.

In conclusion, the US economy saw a significant change in the jobs of all four sectors. Having overall rise in retail healthcare and constant decline in agricultural sector.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the graph’s subject and report several relevant features, including manufacturing’s peak of 20 million in 1980, retail’s rise from 6 to 16 million, and agriculture’s decline. However, the summary is incomplete: healthcare’s substantial growth from about 2 to 16 million is not described, and the overview does not clearly compare the sectors at the end of the period. The claim that manufacturing declined after 1980 is accurate, but the final overview’s “constant decline” in agriculture overlooks its stable level between 1980 and 2000. The response also falls short of the required 150 words, which limits the detail available to cover the main trends. Add a fuller overview and include the missing healthcare trend and key comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable sequence: an introduction, details about the sectors, and a concluding overview. This gives the reader a generally coherent arrangement, and transitions such as “However” help signal contrast. Some connections are less clear, though. The second paragraph combines several trends in a long sentence, while the conclusion repeats broad information without clearly summarising the most important comparison. “Having overall rise in retail healthcare” is also an incomplete sentence, making the final point harder to follow. Group related trends more deliberately—for example, compare the growing sectors together and then describe the declining sector—and use a complete overview sentence. This would make progression clearer and cohesion less dependent on basic linking words.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing trends, including “peaked,” “decline,” and “rise,” and the reader can understand the main subject and figures. However, the range is limited and some choices are inaccurate or unnatural for this chart. “A polygon” is not an appropriate alternative to “line graph,” and “retail company” refers to a business rather than an economic sector. Phrases such as “the most of the four jobs” and “in number” are also awkward. Use precise terms such as “sector,” “employment,” and “number of jobs,” and vary trend language with expressions such as “increased steadily” or “fell gradually.” These improvements would make the description more natural and precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast with “while” and a clause beginning “which,” but control is inconsistent. The opening “In9 1960” contains an obvious typing or punctuation error, and “the jobs … peaked … with 20 million jobs than it saw a decline” has faulty sentence construction and an unclear comparison. The final fragment, “Having overall rise in retail healthcare and constant decline in agricultural sector,” lacks a main verb. There are also problems with articles and number agreement, as in “the most of the four jobs.” Aim for complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check punctuation and sentence boundaries. More accurate control of these structures would improve readability.

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