Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-20

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)

the given line graph illustrates information about the number of employment in manufacturing,retail,agriculture and healthcare of the economy in the USbetween 1960 and 2020.The data is measured in millions.

Overall,jobs in healthcare sector was highest among the other factor,while agriculture was the least number of jobs.In addition,healthcare and retail sector parallel,but at end medical sector overlap retail.

It is apparent that in 1960,number of employment in healthcare was approximately 3 million where as,figure rose to above 15 million in 2020.In contrast,retail sector in 1960 was above 5 million figure showed upward trend and reached approximately 16 million in 2020.

Moving towards the remaining data,agriculture was the least number of jobs availability in1960 it was above 5 million which incline and reachedapproximately 4 million in 2000.Furthermore,manufacture industry highest number of employment in 1960 was 15 milliom

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response4.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.0

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the four sectors and give a broad overview that healthcare and retail rise while agriculture remains the smallest sector. However, the overview is inaccurate: healthcare is not the highest throughout, and by 2020 it only ties with retail at about 16 million. Several key details are missing or misreported. Healthcare starts at about 2 million, not 3; agriculture falls from about 6 million to 2 million, rather than reaching 4 million in 2000; and the manufacturing trend after 1960 is not described. The final sentence is incomplete and gives no later manufacturing figures. The response also falls 15 words short of the required minimum. Include a complete overview and accurately compare the main changes across the period.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs grouping the sectors. Phrases such as “In contrast” and “Moving towards the remaining data” show an attempt to guide the reader. However, progression is weakened by unclear or contradictory statements, especially “healthcare sector was highest” followed by the claim that healthcare and retail overlap only “at end.” The final paragraph stops abruptly, leaving manufacturing unfinished. Some linking phrases are also awkward or do not clearly express the relationship between ideas. To improve, organise the body around clear comparisons, complete each paragraph, and use references such as “this figure” only when their meaning is unmistakable.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing charts, including “upward trend,” “approximately,” and “reached,” and the reader can generally identify the sectors being discussed. However, several word choices and collocations are unnatural or imprecise, such as “number of employment,” “other factor,” “parallel,” and “least number of jobs availability.” “Medical sector” is also an inconsistent substitute for “healthcare sector,” while “manufacture industry” is not the appropriate form. Spelling and spacing problems, including “milliom” and “USbetween,” further reduce accuracy. Aim for standard chart language and consistent sector labels; for example, use “number of jobs,” “remained the smallest,” and “followed a similar upward trend.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a contrast structure beginning “In contrast,” and a clause describing how a figure “rose.” However, grammatical errors are frequent and sometimes make relationships difficult to follow. Examples include “jobs in healthcare sector was highest,” where the article and subject–verb agreement are incorrect, and “retail sector in 1960 was above 5 million figure showed upward trend,” which needs clearer sentence boundaries and articles. The final sentence is also incomplete. Work on articles, agreement, and punctuation, and check that each sentence has a complete main clause. More accurate control of these basic patterns would make your comparisons much easier to understand.

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