Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The line graph illustrates the various number of jobs in four different sectors of the economy in the United State from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, the manufacturing job considerably attracted the highest number of job throughout the period, while the agriculture increased significantly and, In contrast the healthcare declined steadily, becoming the least job.

In 1960, there was around 15m of manufacturing job, it then increase in 1980 for 20m . After it decreased dramatically and around 12m job in 2020. The retailer job experienced roughly 6m in 1960, and then it rose steadily at around 15m and then approximately same in 2000 to 2020.

Agriculture job seen in 1960 that was around 6m, the job ratio decrease steadily at around 3m and then considerably same over the period. The healthcare recorded around 2m in 1960, the job increased significantly over the period that was seen around 12m in 2000 and 15m in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

The response identifies the four sectors and gives some relevant figures, including manufacturing’s peak of about 20 million in 1980 and agriculture’s decline. However, the overview substantially misreports the main trends: manufacturing did not remain the highest throughout, as retail and healthcare both reached about 16 million by 2020, and agriculture decreased rather than increased. The claim that healthcare “declined steadily” is also the opposite of the chart; it rose from about 2 million to 16 million. Some details are too vague or inaccurate, such as saying retail was approximately the same from 2000 to 2020, when it rose slightly. Select the dominant trends accurately and compare the sectors at the beginning and end.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the figures. It also follows a broadly chronological order, which helps the reader locate the data. However, progression is weakened because the overview gives trends that conflict with the later details, and the sector comparisons are not clearly grouped or developed. Linking is limited and sometimes awkward, as in “After it decreased dramatically and around 12m job in 2020.” The phrase “and then approximately same in 2000 to 2020” also leaves the relationship between the years unclear. Use clearer topic sentences and connect each sector’s starting point, changes, and final figure in a consistent sequence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses some relevant chart vocabulary, including “rose steadily,” “decreased,” and “over the period,” and the reader can generally identify the sectors being discussed. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, sometimes obscuring the intended trend. For example, “the manufacturing job considerably attracted” is not a natural way to describe employment figures, while “the least job” and “job ratio” are imprecise. “Retailer job” also names a person or business rather than the sector’s employment. Choose standard terms such as “number of jobs,” “employment,” and “sector,” and use trend verbs that accurately describe the data.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

There are attempts to combine ideas using time clauses and linking words, for example, “it then increase in 1980” and “the job increased significantly over the period.” However, verb forms and sentence construction are often inaccurate, and these errors can make relationships between figures difficult to follow. Examples include “it then increase” instead of a past-tense form, “there was around 15m of manufacturing job,” and the incomplete construction “After it decreased dramatically and around 12m job in 2020.” Articles, plurals, and punctuation also need attention. Practise writing complete past-tense sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check agreement and sentence boundaries before finishing.

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