Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-18

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 given column chart provide information about the figure of opporunties in different sectors of the marketplace in the US from 1960 to 2020.

The manufacturing and agriculture sector are fallen in recent times, manufacturing is quit good during 1980 provide 20 millions jobs while agriculture was declinig from 5 millions to 2.5 millions. However after 1980 manufacturing sector keep fallen and provide 13 millions jobs in 2020 while agriculture keep stable till 2000 but then keep falling to 1 million in 2020.

On other hand if we talk about retail and health care sector they accomplish very good marketplace. During 1960 both sectors were increasing. The retail sector produce 15 millions jobs till 2000 and then it keep stuck till 2020, only increase 1 million during 20 years, from 15 to 16 million while healthcare sector produce 5 millions jobs in 1980 and increasing every year and in 2020 the produce similar marketplace to retail sector both sector produce 16 millions jobs, but the healthcare increase rapidly as compare to other sectors.

These four sectors play vital role in the economy of US for last 60 years by opporunties to millions of the people.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main broad contrast: manufacturing and agriculture decline overall, while retail and healthcare grow, and you note that retail and healthcare reach similar levels by 2020. However, several details are inaccurate or unclear. Manufacturing peaks at 20 million in 1980, then falls to 13 million, which you report correctly; agriculture starts at about 6 million, not 5 million, and ends at about 2 million, not 1 million. Retail rises to 15 million by 2000 and 16 million in 2020, rather than becoming “stuck.” The overview is also weakened by the claim that both sectors were increasing in 1960. Focus on accurate start and end points and state the key overall patterns more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic paragraph structure: the first body paragraph groups manufacturing with agriculture, and the second discusses retail and healthcare. This gives the reader a general sense of how the sectors are being compared. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes difficult to follow, and linking phrases are not always used accurately. For example, “During 1960 both sectors were increasing” does not clearly connect to the subsequent figures, while “On other hand” and “However” do not always signal the relationships between the trends that follow. The final sentence about the sectors’ role in the economy adds a general claim rather than summarising the chart. Organise the report around an overview followed by clear comparisons, and use transitions to show changes over time.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant chart vocabulary, including “sector,” “jobs,” “increasing,” “declining,” and “rapidly,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, sometimes making the meaning unclear. “Figure of opportunities” and “good marketplace” do not naturally describe employment data, while “produce 15 millions jobs” is an awkward way to report a figure. There are also noticeable spelling errors, such as “opporunties,” “quit,” and “declinig.” Use precise terms such as “number of jobs,” “employment,” “rose,” and “fell,” and check spelling and singular/plural forms when describing quantities.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt longer sentences with contrast and time clauses, for example, “However after 1980 manufacturing sector keep fallen,” and you use some simple statements to report figures. However, the longer structures are often faulty, and errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and plurals occur frequently. Examples include “the manufacturing and agriculture sector are fallen,” “it keep stable,” and “both sector produce 16 millions jobs.” These errors make some relationships and time changes harder to understand. Aim first for accurate past-tense reporting: “Manufacturing fell after 1980,” and “both sectors produced 16 million jobs in 2020.” Vary sentence structures only when you can maintain correct subject–verb agreement and verb forms.

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