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 about the information of jobs in Manufacturing, Retail, Agricultural and Healthcare part of the economoy in the US between 1960 and 2020.

overall, the number of jobs in healthcare area were the highest ratio throughout the period. similarly, tetail jobs were the second highest sector at some period thanpummet at the end. while Agricultural saw a lowest ratio as compared to others.

It is clear that Healthcare jobs rose dramatically from almost 0.5 million in 1960 to around 15 millions in 2020. similarly, jobs of retail increased significantly from approximately 5 millions in 1969 to 15 millions in 2020. meanwhile, jobs of manufacturing were increase at 15 millions in 1960 to20 millions in 1980. after 1990 to 2020 there were plummet at 10.8 millions. However people were less intrested in Agricultural jobs it is decrease from around 5 millions in 1960 to 0.5 million in 2020

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify all four sectors and include several relevant figures, such as manufacturing reaching about 20 million in 1980 and agriculture declining. However, the overview contains a major misreading: healthcare was not the largest throughout; manufacturing led until 2000, while healthcare and retail were joint highest at the end. Some reported values and dates also differ substantially from the chart: healthcare starts at about 2 million, not 0.5, and retail rises from 6 million in 1960, not 5 million in 1969. The manufacturing decline is described as beginning after 1990, although the graph shows a fall after 1980. Select the main comparisons accurately and distinguish the sectors’ changing rankings.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and a paragraph of details. This gives the reader a coherent overall arrangement. Linking expressions such as “similarly,” “meanwhile,” and “however” show an attempt to connect information, but their use is sometimes mechanical or does not express the relationship clearly. For example, “similarly” introduces two separate sector trends, while “however” precedes the agriculture decline without a clear contrast. The overview also combines several points in a confusing sentence. Use clearer paragraph progression and group related trends—for instance, rising sectors together and declining sectors together—while making each comparison explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “rose dramatically,” “increased significantly,” and “plummet,” and the sector names make the subject clear. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, which sometimes makes the meaning difficult to follow. Phrases such as “highest ratio,” “jobs of retail,” and “were less interested in Agricultural jobs” are not suitable descriptions of the graph; use terms such as “number of jobs,” “retail employment,” and “employment in agriculture declined.” Spelling errors, including “economoy,” “tetail,” “thanpummet,” and “intrested,” also weaken clarity. Aim for precise, neutral language rather than explaining trends through people’s preferences.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more extended sentences, but control is inconsistent, and errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence boundaries sometimes make the information hard to interpret. For example, “the number of jobs … were” should use a singular verb, while “jobs … were increase” needs a correct past-tense form such as “increased.” The sentence beginning “after 1990 to 2020” is also incomplete and lacks clear punctuation. Capitalisation at the start of sentences is inconsistent, and several clauses are joined without appropriate punctuation. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and build comparisons with complete, clearly punctuated sentences before attempting longer structures.

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