Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-21

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 6.0)

The graph depicts the amount of jobs available in 4 sectors of economy, manufacturing, retail, agriculture, healthcare, through the years 1960 to 2000 in the US.

Overall, the highest number of jobs were in the manufacturing sector from 1960 to 2000. There was a gradual decrease after 2000, and finally it was overtaken by retail and heathcare in 2020. The lowest number of jobs with a modest contraction from 1980 to 2020, were in agriculture.

It can be highlighted that manufacturing has been a decent sector with quite high number of jobs ranging between 15 million to around 13 million over the years. In contrast, the agriculture sector has had some low numbers of jobs, around 6 million to 2 million from 1960 to 2020.

The sectors retail and healthcare had a rise from 6 million and 3 million respectively to around 16 million by 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main broad patterns: manufacturing is initially the largest sector, agriculture declines, and retail and healthcare grow. However, the opening says the period is 1960 to 2000, although the chart continues to 2020, and the overview’s claim that manufacturing is overtaken by both retail and healthcare is not quite accurate: it is tied with healthcare at about 16 million, while retail is also around 16 million. Some details are underdeveloped or inaccurate, including healthcare’s starting figure (about 2 million, not 3 million) and the lack of the 1980 manufacturing peak. The response is also four words below the required minimum. Include a fuller, accurate overview and a few key comparisons across all four years.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and two detail paragraphs. The contrast between manufacturing and agriculture, followed by retail and healthcare, gives the reader a sensible route through the data. Basic linking phrases such as “Overall” and “In contrast” are used appropriately. However, the final paragraph is very brief and does not develop the comparison between retail and healthcare, while the overview repeats some information from the detail paragraphs. The opening’s 1960–2000 timeframe also conflicts with the later reference to 2020, weakening the progression of information. Develop the body paragraphs with selected figures and clearer comparisons, and ensure the time period is consistent throughout.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary to describe trends, including “gradual decrease,” “contraction,” “ranging,” and “rise.” These choices help communicate the main movements in the graph. Some expressions are imprecise or unnatural for this task, however. “Amount of jobs” is less suitable than “number of jobs,” and “a decent sector” does not clearly describe employment levels. “The lowest number of jobs with a modest contraction” is also awkwardly phrased, and “heathcare” is misspelled. Aim for precise, conventional chart language and check spelling. For example, describe a sector as having the “highest employment” or “fewest jobs,” and use “increased” or “declined” to report changes directly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and more complex forms, including the overview sentence with “There was a gradual decrease … and finally it was overtaken” and the contrast introduced by “In contrast.” Meaning is generally clear, and several sentences are controlled. Some errors remain in sentence construction and agreement. In “The lowest number of jobs …, were in agriculture,” the subject and verb do not agree, and the inserted phrase makes the sentence difficult to follow. “Manufacturing has been … ranging” also shifts awkwardly between present perfect and a description of past chart data. The introduction’s time reference is grammatically clear but inconsistent with the period reported later. Use past-tense forms consistently for the completed period and simplify sentences where extra clauses obscure the main point.

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