Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-11

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 information related to the number of occupations in various sectors of the economy in between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, it is evident that in 2020, manufacturing has plummeted, whereas retail and healthcare overlapped with each other. However, agriculture dipped marginally.

According to the line chart, in 1960, retail occupation was demanded than healthcare. However, both started to rise up continuously in the following years 1980 and 2000. Likewise, over the decades, agriculture and retail experienced a sharp increase, where they overlies, and plateaued approximately 16 millions jobs in 2020.

In terms of manufacturing, it was most popular jobs in 1960, then it surged from 15 millions to 20 millions in 1980, before it decline steadily, and surpassed the other two sectors by 2020. Similarly, agriculture experienced a shape decrease in between 1960 and 1980, afterward from 1980 to 2000, it remains constant on 4 millions jobs, then again, it started to dipped marginally to 3 million by 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad movement of manufacturing and note that retail and healthcare finish at similar levels, but several key details are inaccurate or unclear, which limits how fully the graph is reported. Retail and healthcare do not both rise continuously: healthcare increases throughout, while retail rises from 6 to 16 million; agriculture declines rather than increasing sharply. The statement that manufacturing “surpassed the other two sectors by 2020” is also incorrect, as retail and healthcare both finish above it. Agriculture is described as remaining at 4 million and ending at 3 million, whereas the chart shows about 3 million in 1980 and 2000, falling to 2 million in 2020. A more accurate overview and carefully selected comparisons would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and separate discussion of the trends, so the reader can identify the main topic. However, progression is weakened by unclear or contradictory statements. For example, the overview says agriculture “dipped marginally,” while the next paragraph says agriculture and retail experienced a sharp increase; the latter also appears to confuse the two series. Linking words such as “However,” “Likewise” and “Similarly” are used, but some do not express the relationship between the information accurately. Grouping the rising sectors together and then contrasting them with manufacturing and agriculture would make the comparisons easier to follow. Clearer references to each sector would also prevent confusion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing trends, including “surged,” “decline steadily,” “plateaued” and “marginally,” and the meaning is generally recoverable. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “number of occupations,” “retail occupation was demanded,” and “most popular jobs.” “Overlies” is not appropriate for describing two lines reaching the same value, and “shape decrease” appears to be an inaccurate word choice. These errors sometimes make the intended trend difficult to interpret. Aim for precise chart language, such as “number of jobs,” “employment in retail,” “reached the same level,” and “a sharp decline,” while avoiding claims about demand or popularity that the graph does not show.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including clauses beginning with “whereas,” “before” and “although”-type contrasts, and the overall meaning can usually be understood. However, errors occur across verb forms, agreement, articles and sentence construction. Examples include “retail occupation was demanded than healthcare,” “before it decline steadily,” “it remains constant,” and “it started to dipped.” The sentence beginning “Likewise, over the decades” also has an unclear subject and an awkward clause structure. Work on consistent past-tense reporting and the correct verb pattern after “started to” (base form), as well as sentence-level agreement. More accurate control of these patterns would make your comparisons clearer without requiring more complicated sentences.

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