Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-15

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 below shows data about the number of work in millions in manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare sectors in US from [redacted phone]. Overall, manufacturing has the highest number of work while retail has the least.

To begin, in 1960 manufacturing has 15 million number of work s and it increases slightly to 20 million in 1980 before decreasing drastically to below 15m in 2020. Moreover, agriculture and retain has about 7 million work opportunities in 1960, retain jobs increases steady to 15 million in 2000 and further slightly increase in 2020. However, agriculture continued to decrease faster to about 7 million, and remained the same until 2000 before decreasing further to about less than 5 million job.

To conclude,healthcare with the least number of jobs in 1960, about 2.5 million, increase steadly to 15million jobs in 2000 and further slight increase t0 16 million in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the four sectors and report several key movements, including manufacturing peaking in 1980 and agriculture declining. However, the overview is inaccurate: manufacturing does not remain the highest throughout, since retail and healthcare both reach about 16 million in 2020, above manufacturing at about 13 million. The claim that retail has the least jobs is also incorrect; agriculture is generally the smallest after 1960. Some figures and trends are misreported, such as agriculture being about 7 million in 2020 rather than about 2 million, and healthcare reaching about 11 million in 2000 rather than 15 million. The response is also two words below the required minimum. Select the main comparisons more accurately and give a concise, correct overview.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable sequence: an introduction and overview, followed by details on manufacturing, retail and agriculture, then healthcare. Time markers such as “in 1960,” “in 1980” and “in 2000” help readers follow the data. However, the overview is not clearly separated from the detail, and “To conclude” introduces another data point rather than a summary. The second paragraph combines three sectors in a long, crowded sequence, making comparisons harder to follow; “Moreover” and “However” do not always signal the relationships clearly. Use one paragraph for the overview and group the detailed comparisons into clearer sections, with accurate linking and reference.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “manufacturing,” “agriculture,” “retail,” “healthcare,” “increases” and “decreasing,” so the subject is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or forms are inaccurate or awkward: “number of work,” “work opportunities,” and “retain” for “retail.” Repetition of “increase” and “decrease” also makes the account less precise. Spelling errors such as “steadly” and “t0” further reduce control. Aim for accurate, natural collocations for chart descriptions, such as “number of jobs,” “employment rose,” and “fell to,” and check spelling and sector names carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more extended sentences, including a contrast with “before” and a clause beginning “while.” The main trends can usually be understood, but errors in verb forms, agreement and sentence construction occur in several places. For example, “manufacturing has 15 million … and it increases” shifts into the present tense when describing past data; “retail jobs increases” has a subject–verb agreement error; and “healthcare with the least number of jobs … increase” is not a complete, correctly formed clause. Missing or inconsistent punctuation, as in “To conclude,healthcare,” also affects accuracy. Use the past simple consistently for the historical figures and check that each sentence has a clear subject and finite verb.

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