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 graph illustrates the information about the quantity of jobs in four divisions of economy in US from 1960 to 2020.

In first year manufacturing graph were rise and it start decreasing till the ending year. Healthcare jobs start increasing from the first year and kept growing till the last year.

The retail sector in year 1960 grow rapidly and maintain itself in economy of US till 2020. Manufacturing start increasing and get stable in 1980, after that year it start decreasing till the last year. Agricultural sector initial jobs were at 5.2 million but it reduced to 4.7 million till the year 1980. But it remain stable from 1980 to 2000. After that it fallen from 4.6 million to 4.3 million. Healthcare jobs were 3 million at start but with the time being it rise 2 million till 1980, but after that year it start increasing rapidly and at the year 2000 it crosses 10 million and at the end of 2020 it was 15.1 million jobs.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify several broad trends, including the rise in healthcare employment and the decline in agriculture, but the report does not give a clear, accurate overview of the main comparisons. Some figures are substantially misreported: agriculture is described as falling from 5.2 to 4.7 million and then to 4.3 million, whereas the chart shows about 6, 3, 3 and 2 million. Healthcare begins at about 2 million, not 3 million, and reaches about 16 million by 2020. The retail description is also unclear and omits its steady rise from 6 to 16 million. Include a concise overview identifying manufacturing’s early lead and the later growth of retail and healthcare, then support it with accurate key figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response contains relevant information and uses some basic sequencing, such as “from 1980 to 2000” and “after that,” so the reader can follow parts of the timeline. However, the ideas are not arranged into a clear overall progression: manufacturing is discussed, then retail, then manufacturing again, followed by agriculture and healthcare. There is no distinct overview to guide the reader, and several statements are difficult to connect, particularly “The retail sector in year 1960 grow rapidly and maintain itself.” Organise the report into an introduction, a brief overview, and logically grouped details—for example, rising sectors together and declining sectors together. Use clear comparisons rather than repeating time markers mechanically.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “quantity,” “sector,” “reduced,” “stable,” and “increasing rapidly,” and the general subject remains understandable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or awkward, which sometimes makes the intended trend unclear. For example, “four divisions of economy” is less natural than “four economic sectors,” while “maintain itself in economy” does not clearly describe retail’s rise. “Agricultural sector initial jobs” is also an awkward phrase. Aim for precise trend language such as “rose steadily,” “declined,” “remained stable,” and “reached a peak,” and use “employment” or “number of jobs” consistently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, including clauses linked with “but” and “after that,” and the reader can understand the general subject. However, errors occur frequently in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction. Examples include “manufacturing graph were rise,” “it start decreasing,” and “it fallen”; these should use forms such as “the number of manufacturing jobs rose,” “it started to decrease,” and “it fell.” The sentence about retail also lacks a clear grammatical structure. Work on consistent past-tense reporting and subject–verb agreement, and build longer sentences around a clear subject and verb. More accurate basic structures would make the trends easier to follow.

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