Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-09

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 given graph illustrates about the number of vacancies in four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020. Here the X-axis shows the years and the Y-axis represents the number of jobs in millions.

Overall to summarise it is quite evident that the Healthcare and Retail sectors are progressively increasing each year. Manufacturing had the peak in 1980 then it came down over the period of time. Moreover Agriculture is only the least grew sector in US from last 4 decades.

Manufacturing had the 20 million jobs in 1980 then it dropped down to 13 million in 2020 furthermore the Retail sector is steadily growing each year, where it started from 6 millions job and then reached more than 15 million jobs in 2020.

The trend of the Agriculture is one of the least grew and it did not showing any signficant growth. In 1980 it became at the last position with less than 5 million jobs. Healthcare is one of the most grew sector where is started less than 5 million jobs and ended with more than 15 million jobs in 2020. Retail and Healthcare had the same pattern of growth and both of them surpassed Manufacturing in year 2020 and got the first position.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You address the task and give a clear overview of the main patterns: manufacturing peaks in 1980 and then declines, while healthcare and retail rise, and agriculture remains the smallest sector. Several key comparisons are supported with figures, including manufacturing’s fall to 13 million and healthcare’s rise from below 5 million to above 15 million. However, some statements overgeneralise or are imprecise: retail and healthcare do not increase “each year” in the chart’s four-year-point presentation, and agriculture is described as having no significant growth without noting its overall decline from about 6 million to 2 million. Also, retail and healthcare tie at roughly 16 million in 2020 rather than one taking first place. More precise comparisons would strengthen the report.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction and overview to details about the sectors, and the main trends are generally easy to follow. Paragraphing helps separate the overview from supporting information. However, connections between details are sometimes mechanical: “then,” “moreover,” and “furthermore” are used to join ideas without always clarifying their relationship. The final paragraph also shifts between agriculture and healthcare before adding the comparison with manufacturing, which makes the progression less smooth. Some references, such as “the last position,” require the reader to infer the ranking being discussed. Grouping the two rising sectors together and the declining sectors together, with clearer comparisons, would improve cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing a graph, including “peak,” “dropped,” “steadily growing,” and “surpassed,” so the main trends can be understood. However, the range and control of word choice are uneven, with several unnatural or inaccurate phrases: “vacancies” is not the same as the number of jobs, “least grew sector” is awkward, and “same pattern of growth” overstates the similarity between retail and healthcare. There are also spelling errors such as “signficant.” Aim for precise trend language and natural collocations, for example “the smallest sector,” “declined,” and “rose at different rates.” This would make the description clearer and more appropriately formal.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and longer sentences, including clauses linked with “where” and “then,” and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. However, grammatical control is inconsistent, particularly in longer sentences. Examples include “it did not showing” instead of “it did not show,” “where is started” instead of “where it started,” and “Manufacturing had the 20 million jobs,” which needs a more accurate article and construction. Plural and agreement errors also appear in “6 millions job” and “one of the most grew sector.” Several sentences run together without effective punctuation, especially the manufacturing and retail comparison. Use shorter, accurately punctuated sentences and check verb forms, articles, and singular/plural agreement.

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