Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-14

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 shows the economy in four sectors in US. between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, as we can see the information about the eonomy in four sections such as manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare. The manufacturing sector had peaked on 1980 to 20 million jobs and then fluctuated quickly on 2020 to roughly 15 million jobs. The retail sector had dramatically increased in 2000 and its created 15 million jobs but remained constant till 2020 to 17 milliion jobs. The agriculture sector is gradullay decresed in 1980 to 3 million jobs but remained stable at 2000 then fell slightly to 2 million. The healthcare sector had surged slowly in 1980 to 5 million then fluctuated in 2020 over 15 million jobs.

In conclusion, the agriculture sector had plummeted in contrast, healthcare had rose signficantly others sectors had remained conistent.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify all four sectors and report several relevant trends, including manufacturing peaking in 1980 and agriculture declining. However, the response only partially summarises the graph: it gives little direct comparison between sectors and the overview is not clearly separated from detailed figures. Some data are inaccurate: manufacturing falls to about 13 million in 2020, not roughly 15 million; retail reaches about 16 million, rather than 17 million; and healthcare rises to about 16 million, rather than merely “over 15.” The conclusion is also too general to capture the key outcome that retail and healthcare finish as the largest sectors. The response is 10 words below the required minimum, which limits the opportunity to develop the main features. Add a clearer overview and accurate comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic structure, with an opening, a main paragraph and a concluding sentence, and the sectors are discussed in a generally understandable order. This gives the reader some organisation. However, progression is limited because the main paragraph lists each sector in turn without clearly grouping or comparing related trends. Phrases such as “Overall, as we can see” and “In conclusion” are repetitive or unnecessary, while “others sectors” does not clearly identify which sectors are being compared. The overview also contains detailed figures, making the distinction between summary and supporting information unclear. Organise the response into a concise overview followed by comparisons of the rising and falling sectors, and use linking phrases only where they clarify relationships.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing trends, including “peaked,” “remained stable,” “fell slightly” and “surged,” so the reader can understand the general direction of change. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or awkward for a graph description. “Fluctuated quickly” does not describe manufacturing’s steady decline after 1980, and “its created 15 million jobs” is not a natural way to report a figure. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “eonomy,” “gradullay,” “decresed,” “milliion” and “conistent.” Choose precise trend verbs and standard collocations, and check spelling carefully; this will make the account clearer and more appropriate for an academic report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple statements and longer sentences joined with “but” and “then,” and the main trends are usually understandable. However, the range of sentence structures is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to affect clarity. For example, “The line graph shows the economy in four sectors in US” is missing an article and has awkward sentence punctuation; “the retail sector … its created” has an incorrect clause structure; and “healthcare had rose” uses the wrong verb form. Tense use also shifts between past and present, as in “agriculture sector is gradually decreased.” Use consistent past-tense reporting for the historical data, check subject–verb and clause structure, and punctuate the opening sentence correctly.

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.