Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The line graph illustrates the trend of number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 to 2020.

The four jobs sector are manufacturing,retails,agriculture,healthcare.

In manufacturing the graph rose from 15 millions to 20 millions from year 1960 to 1980.Then from 1980 to 2020 there was decline to below 15 millions.

Next retails the line rose gradually from almost 5 millions to 15 millions from year 1960 to 2000.Then it remains constant till 2020.

Then agriculture sector it decrease from above 5 millions to below 5 millions from 1960 to 1980.Next it remains almost constant from 1980 to 2020.

Last job sector is healthcare it rose up gradually.From1960 to 2000 it increased from 2 millions to above 10 millions.Next it increased from 2000 to 2020 upto almost 15 millions.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify all four sectors and report several broad movements, including manufacturing peaking in 1980 and agriculture declining. However, the response is only 120 words, below the required 150, and it has no clear overview summarising the main comparisons. Some figures and trends are also inaccurate: retail rises to about 16 million by 2020 rather than remaining constant after 2000, and agriculture falls further to about 2 million rather than staying almost unchanged through 2020. Manufacturing ends at about 13 million, not simply “below 15.” These omissions and misreadings leave the key features only minimally covered. Add a concise overview and accurately compare the sectors’ end points and major changes.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response follows a generally understandable sequence, moving through manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare, and signposts such as “Next,” “Then” and “Last” help the reader follow the sectors. However, the organisation is repetitive and does not build towards an overall comparison: each sector is treated in a separate, similar sentence, with no overview or grouping of related trends. Some transitions are mechanical, and the abrupt sentence fragments, such as “Next it remains almost constant from 1980 to 2020,” weaken the flow. To improve, begin with an overview of the main patterns, then group the rising sectors and the declining sector, using clear links to compare their figures and changes over time.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use basic vocabulary relevant to describing a line graph, including “rose,” “decline,” “increased” and “constant,” so the main trends are usually understandable. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or awkward: “the four jobs sector” and “retails” do not name the categories correctly, while “rose up gradually” is redundant. Repeated use of “Next” and “from…to…” also makes the description sound repetitive. Use precise terms such as “employment,” “number of jobs,” “peaked,” “fell,” and “remained stable,” while retaining the sector names exactly as shown. More varied, accurate trend language would make the report clearer and more suitable for an academic summary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

Most sentences communicate a basic trend, but the response relies heavily on simple sentence patterns and contains frequent errors in sentence formation, agreement, articles, plurals and punctuation. For example, “The four jobs sector are” has a subject–verb agreement error, and “The line graph illustrates the trend of number” is missing an article. The opening phrase “between 1960 to 2020” uses an incorrect preposition pattern, and “From1960” lacks spacing after the preposition. Several sentences begin with fragments such as “Next it remains…” rather than being smoothly connected to the preceding information. Practise accurate sentence frames such as “The number of jobs in manufacturing rose from… to…” and check articles, agreement and punctuation when editing.

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