Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The graph shows the change in number of jobs in four sectors of the USA's economy 40 years apart. It shows a clear trend among the sectors. The number of jobs in the retail and healthcare increased over the preriod of time. On the other hand in the manufacturing and agriculture sector the number of jobs decreased.

The retail and healthcare sector experienced continuous growth over the last 60 years. The number of jobs in the retail and healthcare sector was 6 and 2.5 million respectively in 1960. But in 2020 the number rose to 16 million for both of the sectors. Jobs were increasing in these sectors in other reporting years also. In 1980 the retail and healthcare sectors offer 10 and 5 million jobs respectively which climbed to 15 and 11 in 2000.

The job count in the agriculture sector remains stable between 1980 to 2000, this is the only stable trend in the graph. But if we consider the whole timeline the number of jobs decreased significantly in this sector of economy. In 2020 it had 2.5 million of jobs to offer whereas it was 6 million in 1960. The manufacturing sector faces rise and fall over the year but the final figure decreased compare to 1960. It had 15 million of jobs in 1960 that increased to 20 million in 1980, which is the highest among all the sectors throughout the reporting timeline. But after 1980 it started to fall and currently it has 13 million of jobs to offer.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main contrast accurately: retail and healthcare rise, while agriculture declines, and manufacturing peaks before falling. The overview is clear, and the report supports it with figures across the four years, including manufacturing’s rise from 15 to 20 million and subsequent fall to 13 million. Most figures are close to the chart; however, agriculture is reported as 2.5 million in 2020 rather than about 2 million, and the opening says the years are “40 years apart,” although the period spans 60 years. The claim that manufacturing was the highest “throughout” is also too broad: it was not highest in 2000 or 2020. This covers the task well overall, but a few comparisons and details need greater precision.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a coherent overall arrangement: an opening overview is followed by paragraphs on the rising sectors and then the declining or fluctuating sectors. This makes the main trends easy to follow, and linking phrases such as “On the other hand,” “But,” and “whereas” help signal contrasts. However, some connections are mechanical or unclear. For example, “The retail and healthcare sector” treats two sectors as one, and “Jobs were increasing in these sectors in other reporting years also” repeats information before the figures are given. The final paragraph combines agriculture and manufacturing without a clear transition between them. Use more precise referencing and organise each paragraph around a distinct comparison to make progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of vocabulary for describing trends, including “continuous growth,” “remains stable,” “decreased significantly,” and “rise and fall.” These choices communicate the main movements, and the meaning is generally clear. However, some word choices and collocations are awkward or imprecise, such as “40 years apart,” “jobs to offer,” and “the highest among all the sectors throughout the reporting timeline.” “Currently” is also less suitable for a chart ending in 2020. There are spelling and form errors, including “preriod,” which reduce accuracy. Aim for standard chart language such as “the number of jobs,” “stood at,” and “reached,” and check spelling and whether a phrase accurately describes the whole period.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple and complex sentence forms, including contrast clauses with “whereas” and time clauses such as “between 1980 to 2000.” Most sentences remain understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “the number of jobs in the retail and healthcare increased” needs an article or a different construction, and “the retail and healthcare sectors offer” shifts into the present tense while describing past data. “The job count … remains stable” has the same tense issue, while “the final figure decreased compare to 1960” has an incorrect verb form. There are also agreement and article problems in phrases such as “the manufacturing sector faces.” More consistent past-tense reporting and careful checking of verb forms, articles, and singular/plural agreement would improve control.

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