Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The line chart illustrates the data about the number of placements in four categories of the economy in the US from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, it is clear that, the highest number of jobs were in retail and healthcare sector 2020. However, manufacturing slightly declined and ended below retail and healthcare sectors. Moreover, healthcare started slightly above manufacturing but ended with least number of jobs untill 2020.

In 1960, healthcare started with the least number of jobs but significantly rose to slightly above 15 untill the year 2020, whereas retail also closed sligthly above 15 similar to manufacturing.

Manufacturing started as the highest sector and saw a sharp peak in 1980, while started to decline gradually after 1980 and ended below retail and healthcare. Moreover, agriculture started at 5 and kept declining throughout the time period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify several relevant overall patterns, including manufacturing’s peak in 1980 and agriculture’s decline, but the report only partially covers the chart and contains important inaccuracies. The overview says healthcare “started slightly above manufacturing,” although it began at the lowest level, and later says it “ended with least number of jobs,” despite healthcare finishing joint highest with retail. The claim that healthcare rose to “slightly above 15” is broadly close, but the chart shows it reaching about 16; manufacturing ends at about 13, not alongside the two leading sectors. Agriculture also remained level from 1980 to 2000 before falling, rather than declining throughout. The response is 14 words below the required minimum. Include accurate comparisons and the missing stages to develop the summary more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview and two detail paragraphs. This gives the reader a basic route through the information, and linking expressions such as “Overall,” “whereas” and “Moreover” help connect points. However, progression is weakened by contradictory statements: healthcare is described as both starting above manufacturing and starting with the fewest jobs, and as ending with the least jobs despite the overview’s claim that it was among the highest. The final paragraph also combines manufacturing and agriculture without clearly separating their trends. Some transitions feel mechanical, and the overview does not consistently guide the details. Group the two rising sectors together, then compare manufacturing and agriculture, using clear references to the relevant years.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of chart-related vocabulary, including “peak,” “decline,” “rose” and “throughout the time period,” so the main trends are generally understandable. However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural: “placements” does not accurately describe jobs, “categories of the economy” is vague, and “closed” is not a natural way to describe a line’s final value. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “sligthly” and “untill,” which reduce accuracy. Repetition of “started” and “ended” limits variety. Use precise terms such as “employment,” “sector,” “rose to,” and “finished at,” and check spelling carefully. More accurate vocabulary would also help avoid confusing descriptions of the chart.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including clauses with “whereas” and “while,” and most of the intended meaning can be followed. However, errors in sentence construction and punctuation occur across the response. For example, “it is clear that, the highest number of jobs were in retail and healthcare sector 2020” has an unnecessary comma, faulty agreement and a missing preposition/article. In “while started to decline,” the second clause lacks a subject, and “healthcare started with the least number of jobs but significantly rose” would be clearer with a more controlled comparison. The overview also contains awkward sentence boundaries and spacing. Practise complete clauses, subject–verb agreement, and articles and prepositions in phrases such as “in the healthcare sector in 2020.”

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