Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-13

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)

This graph shows information about the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US from 1960 to 2020.The horizontal line gives years and vertical line explains the jobs in millions. From 1960 to 2020 the manufacturing sector overall decreases ,the retail sector over all increases, agriculture sector decreases and healthcare sector increases at all. In 1960 to 1980 there was an increase in jobs in manufacturing sector but after that there was all decrease in jobs. In retail there was through out increase in jobs . In agriculture there was firstly sharp decrease but after 1980 the decrease was slow but still decrease. In healthcare there was increase in jobs gradually from 1960 to 2020. at overall jobs were increase as most of these four sector were increase. the increase is grater than decrease. So we can say it is overall increase. But agriculture decrease is alarming.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad directions correctly: manufacturing rises before falling, retail and healthcare grow, and agriculture declines. However, the report is only 136 words, below the required 150, and this limits how fully you can select and explain the main features. Some important comparisons are missing: manufacturing is the largest sector in 1980, while by 2020 retail and healthcare are joint highest at about 16 million. The statement that “overall jobs were increase” is unclear and not supported by a clear comparison across the four series; “agriculture decrease is alarming” is also an opinion rather than a useful data summary. Add an overview and key figures to make the main trends more precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response follows a generally understandable order, moving from a brief description of the axes to trends in each sector. Repeated signposting such as “In retail” and “In agriculture” helps readers identify the topic of each sentence. However, the ideas are presented as one continuous paragraph, and there is no clear separation between an overview and supporting details. Linking phrases such as “after that” and “but” are used, but the final comments about overall employment and agriculture do not connect clearly to the preceding trend descriptions. Organise the report into paragraphs, group related comparisons, and use transitions to show how the sectors compare rather than listing them separately.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant basic terms, including “manufacturing sector,” “jobs in millions,” “increase,” and “decrease,” so the main subject is usually clear. However, the vocabulary is limited and repetitive, with “increase” and “decrease” used many times instead of more precise trend language. Several expressions are awkward or inaccurate, such as “the horizontal line gives years,” “increase in jobs gradually,” and “the increase is grater than decrease.” “Alarming” is also an unsuitable evaluative choice for a neutral chart report. Build a wider range of accurate verbs and comparison phrases, and check spelling and collocations so the description sounds more precise and appropriately formal.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

Most sentences communicate a basic trend, and you attempt some longer structures, for example, “In 1960 to 1980 there was an increase … but after that…” However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences awkward or unclear. Examples include “From 1960 to 2020 the manufacturing sector overall decreases,” where the tense does not fit a completed period, and “at overall jobs were increase,” which has faulty word order and verb form. Articles and sentence boundaries are also inconsistent: “the retail sector over all increases” and “2020.The horizontal line” need correction. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and build longer sentences from correctly formed clauses.

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