Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-17

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

Number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US, 1960-2020

Student answer (Band 5.0)

We can talk about number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the us. First we have manufacturing jobs ,the jobs manufacturig are 15 millions in 1960. These numbers can be increased in 20 years . In 1980 the number of jobs are 20 millions. Later on the manufacturing jobs are decreasing consistently. If we see data between 1980 and 2020 the jobs are remaining around 13 million. A huge drop we can clearly see. Then we have retail jobs if we can see number of jobs in 1960 it was around 6 million and in 2020 it can increased more and number of jobs are 16 million. IF we see agriculture jobs the graph show that in 1960 we have 6 million jobs but in 2020 we have only around 2 million jobs. Then we have healthcare in 1960 we have 2 million jobs but in 2020 this number can goes upto 16 milion jobs. This field can grow more than any other fields.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.0
Coherence and Cohesion4.5
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy4.5
Overall5.0

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify all four sectors and report several key starting and ending figures accurately, including manufacturing at 15 million in 1960 and healthcare rising from 2 million to 16 million. You also recognise the broad decline in agriculture and growth in healthcare. However, the summary is only partial: it gives little account of the intermediate trends for retail, agriculture, and healthcare, and it does not clearly compare the sectors across the period. The manufacturing description is also unclear: saying jobs remained “around 13 million” between 1980 and 2020 conflicts with the peak of 20 million in 1980, followed by a fall to 13 million. Add a concise overview of the main changes and support it with accurate comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic sequence, moving from manufacturing to retail, agriculture, and healthcare, and words such as “First,” “Then,” and “Later on” help signal the order. However, the organisation is mostly a list of sectors rather than a clear overview followed by logically grouped details. Several transitions are repetitive, and the relationship between figures is sometimes difficult to follow—for example, “If we see data between 1980 and 2020” is followed by an unclear claim about jobs remaining around 13 million. Use a separate overview paragraph, group related trends, and connect comparisons explicitly, such as contrasting the growth in healthcare and retail with the decline in agriculture.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is sufficient to identify the sectors and describe basic movement, using terms such as “increased,” “decreasing,” “drop,” and “grow.” However, the range is limited and some expressions are repetitive or imprecise, including repeated use of “jobs” and “number of jobs,” and “This field can grow more than any other fields.” There are also noticeable spelling and word-form errors, such as “manufacturig” and “milion,” which reduce accuracy. Aim for a more varied set of chart-description terms, such as “rose,” “declined,” “reached a peak,” and “ended at,” while choosing precise collocations. This would make the comparisons clearer and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You communicate the basic trends, but sentence structures are mostly simple and several recurring grammar errors make some statements unclear. For example, “These numbers can be increased in 20 years” uses an incorrect passive form, while “this number can goes upto 16” has an incorrect verb form. There are also problems with articles, agreement, and sentence construction in “the graph show” and “the number of jobs are 16 million.” Punctuation and capitalisation are inconsistent, particularly the all-capital “IF” and long gaps between clauses. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and subject–verb agreement, and combine simple sentences with controlled comparative structures, such as “Healthcare rose from 2 million to 16 million.”

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