Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The graph illustrate the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, the jobs in manufacturing is at peak but with passage of time this number is steadily decrease. In Retail and Agriculture the number of jobs are continiously increase between [redacted phone]. The number of jobs in Healthcare are steadily decrease.

In 1960 the largest number of jobs are in manufacturing 15 millions and after five years this number is at 20 millions. After that jobs in manufacturing are continusely decrease now in 2020 there are only 13 millions jobs in manufacturing. while in retail the number of jobs are steadily increase start from 6 million and in 2020 jobs are in retail at 16 million.

In healthcare the number of jobs is also steadily increase. There are only 2 millions jobs in healthcare in 1960 with passage of time the jobs in healthcare is also increase now in 2020 16 millions jobs in healthcare. Jobs in agriculture are steadily decrease start from 6 million and now in 2020 there are only 2 millions jobs in agriculture.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the four sectors and include several relevant figures, such as manufacturing at 15 million jobs in 1960 and healthcare reaching 16 million in 2020. However, the overview contains major inaccuracies: retail and healthcare rise, but agriculture declines, and manufacturing peaks in 1980 rather than simply being “at peak” throughout. You also say manufacturing reaches 20 million “after five years,” although the chart shows this in 1980, and describe healthcare as decreasing in the overview before later correctly saying it increases. These contradictions and misreported trends mean the main features are only minimally conveyed. To improve, give a concise, accurate overview and check each sector’s direction and key turning point against the graph.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic paragraph structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate descriptions of the sectors. This gives the reader some organisation, and phrases such as “After that” and “In healthcare” signal movement between points. However, the progression is weakened by contradictory statements, particularly the overview’s claim that healthcare decreases and agriculture increases, followed by descriptions of the opposite trends. Repeated sentence openings such as “the number of jobs” and “with passage of time” also make the account feel repetitive, while “while” is awkwardly placed after a full stop. Grouping the rising sectors together and the declining sectors together, with accurate links between comparisons, would create clearer progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use basic vocabulary relevant to the graph, including “largest,” “steadily,” “increase,” and “decrease,” so the general subject is understandable. However, the range is limited and several choices or forms are inaccurate: “at peak” is unclear for describing a series that reaches its highest point in 1980, and “continuisely” and “continusely” are misspelled. Repeated use of “number of jobs” and “with passage of time” also limits variety. Aim for precise chart language such as “rose,” “fell,” “peaked,” and “remained stable,” and use natural phrases such as “the number of jobs in manufacturing.” Accurate spelling and a wider set of trend verbs would make the report clearer and more effective.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You communicate through mostly simple sentences and make some attempts to connect ideas, but grammatical errors occur frequently. Subject–verb agreement is inconsistent: “The graph illustrate” should be “The graph illustrates,” and “the jobs in manufacturing is” should be “the number of jobs … was.” Tense and verb-form problems appear in “this number is steadily decrease” and “the number … are steadily increase.” There are also errors with articles and plurals, as in “with passage of time” and “15 millions.” Sentence boundaries and punctuation need attention, especially the lowercase “while” after a full stop. Practise accurate past-tense descriptions and build longer sentences only when you can control their grammar.

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