Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The Line graph illustrates information about the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, at the start number of jobs were highest in manufacturing sector which decreased by the end year. Moreover, there was a significant increase in the retail and healthcare sector while in agriculture sector the trend falls at the start and then remained same.

In 1960, the number of jobs were 15 millions in manufacturing sector then there was a slight increase from 15 to 20 millions in 1980 and then there was a significant decrease by the end of 2020. Furthermore, the number of jobs in agriculture were approximately 7 millions in 1960 which decreased to 3 millions in 1980 and then it remained almost same by the end of 2020.

In contrast, the number of jobs in retail and healthcare was approximately 6 and 2 millions at the start respectively and then there was a significant increase in these sectors in 2000 and in healthcare sector the change remained almost constant while in healthcare sector it further increased to 16 millions by the end of 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main overall pattern: manufacturing starts highest and declines after 1980, while retail and healthcare rise, and agriculture falls. Several figures are also reported accurately, including manufacturing at 15 million in 1960 and 20 million in 1980, and healthcare at 2 million initially. However, some key details are inaccurate or unclear: agriculture is about 6 million in 1960, not 7, and healthcare continues rising rather than remaining constant. The final sentence also confuses the trends, saying the change remained constant in healthcare before stating that it rose to 16 million. Include the important endpoint comparisons more clearly, especially that retail and healthcare both reach about 16 million in 2020, and distinguish their trajectories.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and two detail paragraphs. Grouping manufacturing with agriculture, then retail with healthcare, is a sensible way to organise the data, and transitions such as “Moreover” and “In contrast” help signal relationships. However, progression is weakened by repeated “then” constructions and by the final sentence, where the reference to “the change” is unclear and healthcare is mentioned twice in contradictory ways. The overview also gives a broad summary but does not clearly compare the two rising sectors at the end. Use clearer sentence links and make each paragraph follow a consistent time sequence or sector comparison so the reader can track the trends without rereading.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “significant increase,” “decreased,” “remained,” and “approximately,” and the meaning is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several phrases are repetitive or imprecise, particularly repeated uses of “number of jobs” and “there was a … increase/decrease.” Some collocations and forms are awkward, such as “the trend falls” and “by the end year,” which reduce naturalness. Aim for more precise trend language and vary how you describe movement, while keeping the wording accurate. For example, distinguish a gradual rise from a sharp rise, and use “employment” or “job numbers” where appropriate rather than repeating the same phrase.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the overall meaning can usually be followed. However, errors are frequent, especially with subject–verb agreement, articles and plural forms. Examples include “number of jobs were” and “the number of jobs … were,” where the grammatical subject is singular, as well as “15 millions” and “6 and 2 millions,” where “million” should not take a plural ending after a number. Article use is also inconsistent in phrases such as “in manufacturing sector.” Longer sentences, particularly the final one, become difficult to control and contain unclear clause relationships. Practise building accurate comparisons with shorter clauses, then combine them using controlled linking structures and check agreement and number forms.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.