Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-16

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 given line graph illustrates about variety of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020 .

Overall , the maximum number of jobs were in manufacturing sector and whreas minimum in agriculture .

To commence with , manufacturing follows the upward trend in 1980 was 20 million and downwards in 2020 was roughly 14 million . The agriculure had least number of job factors in everry year as in beggining it was near about 6 million and in 1980 and 2000 it remains same as aproximately 3 million and it falls to 2.5 in 2020.

Moving ahead , both the healthcare and retail sector followed the upward trend in proving the jobs . The healthcare starts from roughly 3 million in 1960 and 5 in 1980 whereas it grow to 12 in 2000 and both health and retail had same in 2020 that was near abot 16 million .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the four sectors and include several relevant figures, such as manufacturing reaching 20 million in 1980 and agriculture falling to about 2 million by 2020. However, the overview is inaccurate: manufacturing was not the largest sector throughout the period, since retail and healthcare both reached about 16 million in 2020, above manufacturing at roughly 13 million. The response also omits key comparisons, especially retail’s steady rise and its overtaking of manufacturing by 2000. Healthcare’s rise is mentioned, but its 2020 tie with retail is not enough to summarise the overall changes. The response is 141 words, below the required 150, and this limits the development of the report. Add a clearer overview and cover the main trends more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic paragraph structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing the sectors. Sequencing phrases such as “To commence with” and “Moving ahead” help signal a change in focus. However, the progression is not consistently clear because related information is split unevenly: manufacturing and agriculture are grouped together, while retail is only briefly mentioned alongside healthcare. The overview also conflicts with the final comparison, which says healthcare and retail had the same number of jobs in 2020. Some linking expressions feel mechanical, and punctuation spacing is inconsistent. Grouping the two rising sectors together and the two declining or fluctuating sectors together, while using clear comparisons between them, would make the organisation easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing trends, including “upward trend,” “falls,” and “maximum number,” so the reader can generally understand the topic. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are unnatural, such as “variety of jobs,” “job factors,” and “followed the upward trend in proving the jobs.” Spelling errors, including “agriculure,” “everry,” and “beggining,” are noticeable and reduce accuracy. Use standard chart language and precise sector terms—for example, “number of jobs,” “employment,” “increased,” and “declined.” Check spelling carefully, and avoid repeating broad phrases when a specific verb can describe the trend more clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts some longer sentence forms, including a comparison between healthcare and retail, but the range is limited and errors are frequent enough to make parts difficult to read. For example, “manufacturing follows the upward trend in 1980 was 20 million and downwards in 2020” lacks a clear grammatical structure, while “it grow to 12” has an incorrect verb form. There are also problems with articles, agreement, and sentence construction in “the healthcare starts” and “both health and retail had same.” Use complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and keep past-tense reporting consistent. Shorter, accurately controlled comparisons would improve clarity before you attempt more complex structures.

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