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)

The line graph illustrates the data regarding the number of employments in four sectors in the US 1960 to 2020.

Overall, manufacturing sector accounted for the higest number of jobs at the beginnning but this figure declined later. In contrast, both healthcare and retail saw the most dramatic growth over the period. Meanwhile, the number of jobs in agriculture consistently had the lowest number of share throughout the time frame.

In 1960, manufacture stood at 15 millions jobs, which was higest among the others. It reached 20 millions in1980. However, it then fell to 13 millions by 2020. Likewise, healthcare started at just 3 millions employment but it increased steadily and reaching around 16 millions jobs by 2020.

Retail accounted for only 6 millions at first but it increased significantly rasing to 16 millions in 2020, which is equal to healthcare. While, agriculture experienced the lo

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main overall pattern: manufacturing begins as the largest sector and later declines, while retail and healthcare grow, and agriculture remains the smallest. Several figures are also reported accurately, including manufacturing’s peak of 20 million in 1980 and the two growing sectors reaching about 16 million in 2020. However, the response is incomplete: it ends mid-sentence at “agriculture experienced the lo”, so the agriculture trend is not actually described, and the report is four words below the required minimum. Healthcare is said to start at 3 million, whereas the chart shows about 2 million. To strengthen coverage, finish the agriculture comparison and check the opening values against the graph.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the sector figures. The contrast signalled by “In contrast” helps distinguish the manufacturing trend from growth in healthcare and retail. However, the final paragraph stops abruptly at “agriculture experienced the lo”, leaving the comparison unfinished and weakening the progression to a complete summary. Some linking is also awkward or mechanical: “Likewise” introduces healthcare even though its rise contrasts with manufacturing’s decline, and “While” begins a fragment rather than a complete comparison. Use clearer links such as “By comparison” and complete each paragraph’s point so the reader can follow all four trends.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing charts, including “declined”, “increased steadily”, “reached” and “accounted for”, and the main trends remain understandable. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “number of employments”, “lowest number of share” and “15 millions jobs”. Spelling errors in “higest”, “beginnig” and “rasing” also reduce accuracy. The unfinished phrase “experienced the lo” further limits the range of language demonstrated. Aim for standard chart-reporting expressions and check spelling and plural forms: for example, use “number of jobs”, “the smallest sector” and “15 million jobs”.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “15 millions jobs, which was higest” and a contrast clause beginning “While”. The overall meaning is generally recoverable, but errors recur in sentence construction and verb forms. For example, “it increased steadily and reaching” combines incompatible verb forms; “While, agriculture…” is not a complete sentence, and the response ends with an unfinished clause. There are also problems with articles and number agreement in phrases such as “manufacturing sector” and “15 millions jobs”. Practise completing subordinate clauses and keeping verb forms parallel, as in “it increased steadily, reaching…”

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