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)

The given graph chat illusrtrate the portion of jobs in four categories of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, it compares some sections of manufacturing, retailing, agriculture and healthcare according to their economies. It is clear that retailing sector has the highest ratio realting to others, the most noticable feature is that manufacturing section decreased rapidly within years.

In general we can see that retailing block consistently rising over the years, moreover we can also see that agriculture makes up millions jobs roughly equals to retailing sector. However, the healthcare portion has highest ratio compares to others as it increased in the same manner for about many years then jumped up to reach at high percentage.

In contrast, healthcare and retailing are three times greater than other two sectors in between 1960 to 2020 with almost 5 million to 15 million jobs, but the most shocking point it that manufacturing had a sudden spic in 1980 but then dramaticaly decreaces over the years till 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the four sectors and mention several relevant trends, including manufacturing’s rise to a peak in 1980 followed by decline, and growth in retail and healthcare. However, the overview is not consistently accurate: retail was not the highest throughout, and by 2020 retail and healthcare were joint highest at about 16 million. The claim that agriculture was roughly equal to retail is also unsupported; agriculture fell from about 6 million to 2 million while retail rose. Some comparisons, such as healthcare and retail being “three times greater” than the other sectors, are unclear or inaccurate. To make the response more complete, report the main changes with accurate figures and distinguish the sectors’ different patterns.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has an introduction, overview-like statements and a final comparison, so there is some organisation. However, the progression is difficult to follow because key points are repeated or conflict: retail is described as the highest, while healthcare is later said to have the highest ratio. The paragraph beginning “In general” combines several trends without a clear comparison, and “In contrast” does not introduce a clear contrast. Linking expressions such as “moreover” and “however” are used, but they do not always show the relationship between the ideas accurately. Group the information into a concise overview and a paragraph comparing the main sector trends, using clear references and transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You attempt a range of task-related vocabulary, including “consistently rising,” “decreased rapidly” and “sudden” peak, and the reader can generally identify the sectors being discussed. However, word choice and collocation are often inaccurate or awkward, as in “highest ratio,” “retailing block,” “spic” and “dramatically decreases.” There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “illusrtrate,” “realting,” “noticable” and “decreaces,” which reduce clarity. Use standard chart language such as “number of jobs,” “sector,” “rose,” “peaked” and “declined,” and check spelling carefully. Avoid using “ratio” or “percentage” when the graph reports numbers of jobs.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You use some longer sentence forms, including clauses joined with “while” and “but,” and the overall meaning is sometimes recoverable. However, attempts at complex sentences are frequently faulty, and errors can make comparisons hard to understand. For example, “the most noticable feature is that manufacturing section decreased” is missing an article, while “healthcare portion has highest ratio compares to others” has problems with articles and sentence structure. Tense and agreement are also inconsistent in “agriculture makes up” and “manufacturing had a sudden … but then … decreases.” Practise forming complete, controlled sentences with accurate articles, verb forms and comparisons before adding more complex clauses.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.