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 line graph illustrates the changes in the number of jobs of the US over a period of sixty years from 1960 to 2020. It compares four various categories, with figures are measured in millions.

Overall, the manufacturing sector rose intially, whereas Healthacare represented the lowest figures in the beginning year. In addition agriculture remained relatively stable with minor fluctuations.

For instance, manufacturing started at 15 million in 1960 and rose to a peak of 20 millions in 1980 before declining to around 12 millions by 2020. However, Retail and Healthcare followed an upward trend, reaching significantly to 16 millions in 2020, overriding both agriculture and manufacturing.

In contrast, exhibted a downward trend, with its figures decreased from 6 to 1 million in 2020, and remained stable until 1980 and 2000 in 3 millions before fell in the end of the year.

In summary, the graph shows the trends of different sectors, retail and helathcare became joint-highest, while others remained the least.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the four sectors and report several important patterns, including manufacturing’s rise to a peak in 1980 and the later growth of retail and healthcare. However, some key details are inaccurate or unclear: manufacturing ends at about 13 million, not 12; agriculture falls to about 2 million, not 1; and the statement that agriculture “remained relatively stable” overlooks its overall decline. The overview also says retail and healthcare became joint-highest, which is accurate, but the description of agriculture’s movement is difficult to follow because its name is omitted. To strengthen the response, give a clear overview of the contrasting trends and report the main figures accurately for each sector.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction and overview to details and a concluding summary. This gives the reader some sense of organisation. However, progression is weakened by unclear references and connections. In “In contrast, exhibted a downward trend,” it is not clear which sector is being discussed, while “For instance” does not introduce an example so much as a sequence of data. The final “In summary” repeats the overview without adding much. Use one paragraph for the overview and organise the details by trend—for example, manufacturing and agriculture declines versus retail and healthcare growth. Clearer linking and explicit sector names would make the relationships easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “peak,” “declining,” “upward trend,” and “downward trend,” which helps describe changes over time. However, the range is limited and several word-choice, collocation, and spelling problems reduce precision. “Four various categories” is awkward, and “reaching significantly to 16 millions” is not a natural way to describe the figures. There are also misspellings such as “intially,” “Healthacare,” “exhibted,” and “helathcare.” Aim for accurate, conventional expressions such as “four sectors,” “rose to approximately 16 million,” and “fell gradually.” Check spelling carefully, especially for the sector names, and avoid using “significantly” unless you are describing a meaningful degree of change.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a contrast clause beginning “whereas” and a sentence using “before.” However, errors in sentence construction and verb forms are frequent enough to make some relationships difficult to understand. For example, “with figures are measured” combines incompatible structures, and “with its figures decreased” should use a form such as “as its figures decreased.” The agriculture sentence is also incomplete because “In contrast” is not followed by a clear subject, and “before fell” lacks the required verb form. Plural and agreement errors appear in “20 millions” and “figures … remained.” Build sentences around a clear subject and verb, then check tense and singular/plural forms.

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