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 number of jobs in millions in Manufacturing, Retail, Agriculture and Healthcare sectors of the economy in the US between1960 and 2020.

Overall, the highest number of jobs in milliions in manufacturing sectors. However, it was decrease slightly throughout the period. In contrast, the number of jobs in Retail and Healthcare sector increased, Respectively.

From 1960 to 1980, in manufacturing sectors rose from 5 millions to 20 millions. After a small increase it was followed downward trend over the period around 16 millions and 14 millions in 2000 and 2020. In agriculture sectors declined from 6 millions to 4 millions in 1960 to 1980, and between 2000 and 2020 it fell from 4 millions to around 3.5 milllions.

Between 1960 and 1980, And 1980 between 1980 to 2000, Retail had the more jobs rather then Healthcare sectors 4 millions, Respectively. After the slight inclined the were in same number of jobs 16 millions jobs in both sectors.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the four sectors and the overall contrast between declining manufacturing and growth in retail and healthcare. However, the overview is incomplete and partly inaccurate: manufacturing was not the highest throughout, since retail and healthcare both reached about 16 million jobs by 2020, above manufacturing at roughly 13 million. Several figures are also misreported: manufacturing began at 15 million, not 5 million; agriculture fell from about 6 to 3 million by 1980 and then to 2 million by 2020. The final paragraph does not clearly describe the retail and healthcare trends or their starting values. To improve, select the main turning points and compare all four sectors accurately, especially their relative positions at the beginning and end.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and two detail paragraphs, and it attempts to organise information by sector and period. However, progression is difficult to follow in places. The final paragraph begins, “Between 1960 and 1980, And 1980 between 1980 to 2000,” which repeats time references without making the comparison clear. Connectors such as “However,” “In contrast” and “After” are used, but some links do not accurately express the relationship between ideas. The overview also does not prepare the reader for the details that follow. Use one paragraph for manufacturing and agriculture and another for retail and healthcare, with clear chronological comparisons and precise references to each sector.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “line graph,” “sectors,” “declined,” “downward trend” and “increased,” so the topic is generally identifiable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, sometimes making the meaning unclear. For example, “the highest number of jobs in milliions in manufacturing sectors” is not a natural or complete expression, while “the slight inclined” and “had the more jobs rather then” are difficult to interpret. Spelling errors such as “milliions” and “milllions,” and inconsistent capitalisation, also reduce control. Build a small set of accurate trend phrases and use them consistently, such as “employment rose to,” “fell from … to …,” and “had more jobs than.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including time clauses such as “From 1960 to 1980” and contrastive structures beginning “In contrast.” However, grammatical errors are frequent and sometimes make relationships between figures hard to understand. Examples include the fragment “Overall, the highest number of jobs … in manufacturing sectors,” the missing subject in “in manufacturing sectors rose,” and the faulty construction “it was decrease slightly.” Agreement and sentence formation are also problematic in “the were in same number of jobs.” Work on complete clauses with a clear subject and verb, accurate past-tense forms (“rose,” “declined”), and articles and plurals. Proofread punctuation and capitalisation, particularly the unnecessary capitals in “Respectively” and “And.”

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.